Meta is phasing out the old WhatsApp app for macOS, built using Electron. Users are urged to upgrade to the new Catalyst-powered version for better performance & feature support

Meta, the parent company behind WhatsApp, has recently announced a significant change for macOS users of its popular messaging platform. The company is discontinuing support for the older version of its WhatsApp app for macOS, built using Electron, a framework that enables the creation of cross-platform desktop apps with web technologies. While this approach facilitated development across multiple operating systems, it also brought about certain performance constraints.

As WhatsApp continues to evolve and introduce new features, the Electron-based app has increasingly struggled to maintain optimal performance. The new WhatsApp app for macOS, built using Catalyst, a technology that empowers developers to generate native macOS apps from their iOS equivalents, addresses this issue. This approach delivers a notably faster and more responsive app experience, better equipped to seamlessly integrate and support the latest WhatsApp features.

Users currently running the older WhatsApp app on macOS 10 or lower will find that it ceases to function, prompting an upgrade to macOS 11 or a newer version to continue using WhatsApp uninterrupted. This change underscores Meta’s commitment to providing a consistently high-quality user experience, even as the platform’s feature set expands.

If you’re among those still utilizing the older WhatsApp app for macOS, it’s strongly recommended to install the new version without delay. It’s readily available for download from the official WhatsApp website or the Mac App Store.

In addition to this significant change, it’s worth noting that the new WhatsApp for macOS necessitates macOS 11 or later for compatibility. Furthermore, WhatsApp has yet to release a native app tailored for iPad users, who can, for now, rely on the web version accessible through any web browser.

This transition marks a pivotal step in WhatsApp’s ongoing journey to enhance its user experience across different platforms. By embracing native technologies like Catalyst, the company aims to deliver an app that is not only feature-rich but also optimized for performance and responsiveness, ensuring that users can enjoy seamless communication regardless of their device.

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Gauri

Gauri, a graduate in Computer Applications from MDU, Rohtak, and a tech journalist for 4 years, excels in covering diverse tech topics. Her contributions have been integral in earning PC-Tablet a spot in the top tech news sources list last year. Gauri is known for her clear, informative writing style and her ability to explain complex concepts in an accessible manner.