Overview

• The latest WhatsApp Windows beta abandons the native UWP/WinUI client in favor of an Edge WebView2 wrapper that hosts the web app and requires a recent Microsoft Edge installation.
• Testers who update to the beta via the Microsoft Store are logged out and must relink their devices to regain access.
• Initial tests indicate the web-wrapped version uses about 30 percent more RAM than the previous native build.
• The simplified interface changes notification handling and drops Windows Fluent Design elements from settings menus.
• The shift echoes Meta’s earlier transition of its Messenger desktop app to a web wrapper, reflecting the company’s move toward progressive web apps.