WhatsApp Web Now Works for iPhones too, Here's How to Enable it for iOS
As you probably know, WhatsApp launched the WhatsApp Web app in January this year. This works by pointing your desktop browser to web.whatsapp.com and then, on your phone's WhatsApp app, scan a QR code to sync the WhatsApp app from your phone with the browser app at web.whatsapp.com.
The biggest flaw at the time of the launch was, due to "Apple platform limitations", the lack of support for iOS users, who could not use WhatsApp Web with their iPhones (unless they wanted a jailbroken workaround). Seven months later, that's no longer the case: WhatsApp Web is being gradually rolled out to all iOS users as we speak.
The only limitation is that it works with iOS 8.1+ only, so if your iPhone does not support iOS 8.1 or newer, you're left with the option to use a jailbroken workaround. WhatsApp Web Enabler (free, iOS4-iOS8.x) from Cydia's BigBoss repository will do the trick.
Here's how to use WhatsApp Web on your iPhone:
- First make sure you are running the latest version of WhatsApp on your iPhone. Open the AppStore app, head over to Updates and see if there's an update available for WhatsApp, then update accordingly. WhatsApp Web is being introduced in version 2.12.6.
- Visit web.whatsapp.com using your desktop Google Chrome browser (Win, Mac,Linux), Firefox (Win, Mac, Linux), Opera (Win, Mac), or Safari. (Microsoft Edge will be supported soon)
- Open the WhatsApp application on your iPhone
- Go to Settings > WhatsApp Web
- An explanation screen is then displayed
- Scan the square QR bar code displayed on the page at web.whatsapp.com, opened on step 2
- Data will then be synced between the smart phone app and the website
- The WhatsApp Web online app will update to display your chats, conversations, groups and friends
Do note that it will take some time for the update to propagate to all iPhone users worldwide. This will happen gradually.
WhatsApp is currently one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, except Asian markets like China and South Korea where WeChat and KakaoTalk hold the majority of users.
While adding desktop support for iPhone users does not seem like a big move for some, it will certainly help WhatsApp keep iOS users loyal instead of seeing them migrate to other cross-platform messaging apps, such as Telegram, Viber, Line, WeChat, who already offer iPhone-Desktop syncing capabilities.
