How to Download WhatsApp: A Tutorial Guide

WhatsApp lets you completely enjoy the online messaging benefits. It was launched in 2009, and till now, remains to be one of the most preferred online cross-platform messaging apps.

WhatsApp has been the talk of the town because of the new Privacy Policies that the company decided to introduce. The uncertainty of Privacy and Security led to a wavering stance of people’s trust. However, it still happens to be the most comfortable app to choose if you want to exchange text, audio, or video messages over the internet.

This is how to install WhatsApp, work your way through it, and enjoy the benefits that it offers.

Part 1: Ways to download WhatsApp on Android

It is very easy to understand how to install WhatsApp on your Android device. If you are using any latest version of Android smartphones, it is a breeze to download WhatsApp from the Google Play Store. If not, there is another alternative method that helps you download the application from the web.

Both of them can be done by following these steps.

1.1 Google Play Store

Step 1: Open the Google Play Store by clicking on an icon that looks like a triangle. It is usually placed along with the other Google-based apps like Chrome and Maps in your phone. The multi-colored triangle is printed on a white shopping bag. Click on this icon.

Step 2: On the top, you will have a search box that has a speakerphone icon by its side. Place your cursor over there and type WhatsApp.

Step 3: The WhatsApp Messenger Inc. page appears. A green-colored "Install" option will be right below the name of the app. Click on it.

Step 4: The application will start downloading. Wait for it to completely download, install and then open the app.

Step 5: Enter your mobile number and verify it using the OTP that the application sends to your cellular mobile number. Now, you are good to use the app.

If you don’t want to go with the Google Play Store app, then you can also download the application from the web browser in your phone. Go to the WhatsApp.com/dl website. This will directly take you to the Google Play Listing and you can directly install the WhatsApp application.

Part 2: Ways to download WhatsApp on iPhone

There is not much difference between downloading WhatsApp for Android or WhatsApp for iPhone. Both the processes have similar steps but you’ll have to approach different stores to get the application. Here, by stores, we mean the Google Play Store for Android and App Store for iPhones. If you are a proud iPhone owner, this is how you can download WhatsApp.

Step 1: In your iPhone, open the App Store. It is a blue-colored square that has a white color letter ‘A’ on top of it. Click on this one.

Step 2: In the app store, enter WhatsApp messenger into the search bar. You will get an application that is named WhatsApp Messenger that is developed by WhatsApp Inc. Click on that one. You will find the download arrow right next to the name. Go for it.

Step 3: After the download, open the application and enter your cellular mobile number. You will receive a code on that number, enter when prompted and continue using the app.

This method works for all iPhone devices that support WhatsApp. All the latest versions and most of the old versions also support WhatsApp and other online messaging apps. This is how to download WhatsApp on iPad as well. The same method can be employed.

Part 3: How to use WhatsApp on PC/MAC?

If you plan to use the WhatsApp application on the desktop, then there is an easy way to do it. You can do so without downloading any executive files. All you need is a stable internet connection that needs to be active on the mobile that has your WhatsApp account. You cannot perform all the activities that you do on your mobile. But you can still exchange messages, upload files or download content using the desktop version. This is how you do it -

Step 1: In Mac or PC, open any web browser that you are comfortable with. Then search for web.WhatsApp.com.

Step 2: On your iPhone or Android, select the three dots on the upper right corner of the page and select WhatsApp web.

Step 3: A code scanner will appear on the page. Scan the code that is on the desktop screen and automatically, your WhatsApp opens on the web browser.

The process is the same for both Mac and Microsoft users. The only thing to keep in mind is that the mobile device that has your WhatsApp account should be connected to the internet while you use it on the desktop.

Part 4: How to download Dual WhatsApp?

The concept of Dual WhatsApp only holds good when you are an Android user. Dual WhatsApp is nothing but having two WhatsApp accounts on the same phone. This is usually not possible because WhatsApp only lets a user register with a single phone number on a device. But if you know the tricks, you will know how to install dual WhatsApp on your Android device. This is how to do it -

Step 1: Take your Android phone and search for the Settings option from the menu.

Step 2: Under the settings, go to the apps option. Depending upon the company and model of the phone, you will find either Dual Apps/ App Twins/ Clone apps option in the list. Select that one.

Step 3: Under the list, Select WhatsApp and turn the toggle on for it. If there is any pop-up on the screen, confirm it and proceed.

Now, you have a clone or dual version of WhatsApp on your phone. You can add another number to this one, verify the number just like you’ve done with the first one and you can use both the numbers on the same phone.

Another efficient method is to use WhatsApp Web feature of Mutsapper (Used name: Wutsapper), then you can log in to two WhatsApp accounts on a phone, or use your same WhatsApp on two devices.

People usually search for how to install WhatsApp but that’s an application that has several anomalies. It's dangerous for your data and your privacy. So, instead of relying on that option, you can go with using dual WhatsApp.

Part 5: How to Protect data if you want to uninstall WhatsApp?

Everyone often has doubts about downloading WhatsApp and how to download WhatsApp status but never consider what they must be doing if they want to uninstall it. WhatsApp has its own backup system that keeps a track of all your information as long as you use the app. However, when you decide to uninstall it, you also end up losing all of the data. This need not be the case.

Because of the new Privacy Policy or any other reason, if you are planning on saying goodbye to WhatsApp, you can use third-party applications to protect your data.

Here is how you can use the application to save your data even without WhatsApp

Step 1: You need to start off by downloading the Wondershare MobileTrans from the official website to your desktop or Mac device.

Step 2: The screen will show you several options. Since we are dealing with WhatsApp here, Go with the WhatsApp Transfer option among the others. However, if you want to transfer content to your phone, then you can go with Phone Transfer as well. Connect your phone to your desktop.

Step 3: Select all the files that you want to transfer from your WhatsApp account. You can be selective or go with the "Select All" option. Then Click on "Proceed" or "Start".

Step 4: Now, all you have to do is wait. Do not interrupt the process and wait for a few minutes. Once the process completion message pops up on the screen, you can disconnect the mobile.

The MobileTrans application lets you transfer all your text, audio, and video files from WhatsApp to your desktop. The text files will be saved as a PDF file and the audio/video messages will be transferred without any change in their quality. This way, you can keep your data safe even when you want to install or delete your WhatsApp account.

Part 6: Are there any safer alternatives to WhatsApp?

WhatsApp has been criticized ever since Facebook bought it in 2014. It was public knowledge that Facebook uses user information to make certain features and services available to them. The same isn’t true with WhatsApp, or so everyone thought until they had announced the new WhatsApp Privacy Policy.

The point of objection was that they demanded users to accept the policy or lose their access to WhatsApp.

The Signal app that is developed by the Signal Foundation is having most of the features that WhatsApp has. It provides text messaging, media exchange, audio, and video calls, also allows up to 1000 members in a Group, and offers end-to-end encryption for all chats.

Moreover, it is a non-profit organization that provides free services and doesn’t have the practice of allowing advertisements on the app. Even when your chats are on the backup, they are end to end encrypted.

On top of it, it's highly safe for all kinds of conversations - both personal and business. The app is having more or less the same size as Hatsapp and saves chats in bytes. It offers screen-lock, security locks, hides notifications if necessary, and doesn’t save any of the user's personal or device information.

Another option in the App Store/ Google Play Store is Telegram. The app is again similar to WhatsApp, has a duller layout but still provides better protection from data breaching. But It comes with a glitch. The company doesn’t ask for anything other than the cellular phone number of the user for registration. After that is done, they also don’t save any of the chats or files that users exchange. But the group chats are not end-to-end encrypted.

This means if someone were to hack your device or disturb the transport of packets, it's possible to decode and misuse your information.

If you compare WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, it is clear that Signal provides the best security and has the aptest user interface. So, at the end of the day, the choice remains with the users.

Conclusion

WhatsApp has become one of the most important online-messaging apps in the world. It is easy to use, hardly takes up any space, doesn’t have complex settings, and your files are also stored for reference in the future. You only need a mobile number to register and verify your presence with them. The main business model of WhatsApp mainly depends on the concept of ‘Revenue Generation through Advertisements’.

This is one of the main reasons why people do not trust the app easily. This only got worse after announcing the new policy. Whatever be your stance on the new policies, if you want to uninstall or delete WhatsApp, do not forget to transfer your data beforehand using MobileTrans. And if you simply want to transfer data from one mobile device to another, then there are apps like Mutsapper that will assist you.

There are diverse solutions out there for all your problems. The question is - how effective are you in tracking them down.

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Axel Nash

staff Editor