WhatsApp is using a new app. Users have to switch. © La Nacion/Imago
WhatsApp is discontinuing an old app. Users must upgrade to the new version by the end of October – otherwise they will lose access to their chats.
Dortmund – There is another change at WhatsApp. Anyone who uses the desktop app of the popular messenger will soon have to switch to a new version. The reason: WhatsApp is discontinuing the previous “Electron”-based app. Anyone who does not switch in time will lose access to the messenger.
WhatsApp throws out app: Users have to switch in October
The deadline is short: From the end of October 2024, the old app will no longer be supported. Users therefore only have a few weeks to install the new version, which is based on the “Catalyst” framework. However, only Apple users who use the app on the MacBook are affected by the change, as the experts from WABetaInfo write.
The Electron app was a useful tool because it worked with web technologies such as JavaScript and ran on various operating systems. However, it has now become outdated. WhatsApp is therefore pulling the plug and relying on Catalyst technology.
WhatsApp is releasing a new app in October: users have to switch
Catalyst is a framework from Apple that makes it easier for developers to bring iPad apps to the Mac. With the new version, WhatsApp promises better performance, more system integration and less resource consumption. All in all, the app should run more smoothly and faster, as is the case with WABetaInfo is called.
If you use the WhatsApp desktop app on your Mac, you will need to switch to the new version to continue receiving and sending messages. Don’t worry: All chats and contacts will be retained if you switch in time. The new app can be easily downloaded from the official WhatsApp-Website can be downloaded.
New desktop version of WhatsApp: Some functions are still missing
But there is a catch. Some features of the old version, such as the community tab and channels, are not yet available in the new version. However, WhatsApp promises to add these features in future updates.
Electron was previously the technical foundation of the WhatsApp desktop app. It enabled developers to create apps for different platforms using just one code. Practical, but not always optimal in terms of speed and system integration (more digital topics at RUHR24).
Catalyst, on the other hand, is tailor-made for Apple devices. It ensures that the app makes better use of the specific functions of macOS and is more resource-efficient overall. For users, this means less memory consumption, faster response times and more stable use.
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WhatsApp users have to switch: The deadline expires in October
The switch to the new WhatsApp app on the Mac is inevitable. If you want to continue using WhatsApp on the desktop from the end of October, you should install the new Catalyst app now.
For most users, the change will be worthwhile, as the app is faster and better adapted to macOS. A few small functions are still missing, but these should be added soon.
