Now WhatsApp has a native app on Windows that works standalone

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The new app on Windows doesn't require you to link your phone to send or receive messages. The updated Windows app is now available to download on the Microsoft Store.

Users on Windows used to have to download the web-based desktop app or access the messaging service from their browsers. The app is native to Windows and should make it quicker and more responsive.

Compared to the previous version of the app, the new version has a slightly cleaner interface. The biggest change is that you don't have to keep your phone online to keep in touch with friends and family. There is a native app for macOS being worked on.

Oh wow, the new version of WhatsApp is now out of beta. It's a modern Windows app which replaces the old electron/web version. You can receive messages without the app being turned on, and you don't need to be connected to a phone.

Download: https://t.co/10uMAH7SHI pic.twitter.com/6Xh1KKqsh0

— Daniel (@kid_jenius) August 16, 2022

The multi- device feature has been fully rolled out and is out of the testing phase. You can link up to four devices to your account without having to use your phone.

The platform may add multi- device support for tablets in the future, according to a screen shot found by the website. Adding support for tablets would make sense since the only way to link your computer to your account is with a computer.

There are some limits to using linked devices. If you use an Apple device as your primary device, you can't clear or deleted chats. You can't send a message with link previews from the web or call someone who is using a very old version of the app.