WhatsApp Mac Beta With Native Apple Silicon Support Now Available to All Users

WhatsApp has been working on an updated Mac app that features native Apple silicon support since the summer, and a beta version of the app is now available to all WhatsApp users who want to try it out.

Whatsapp Feature
As noted by WABetaInfo, the Mac app with native Apple Silicon support can be downloaded from the WhatsApp website, with the download available directly by clicking here.

The beta was previously available to a limited number of people with WhatsApp TestFlight access, but WhatsApp is expanding testing ahead of an official release. Note that this is still a beta, so some features might not be functioning as expected.

Apple silicon Macs have access to the Electron-based Intel version of WhatsApp for Mac through Rosetta 2, but this is the first time that a native version has been made widely available. The Apple silicon-optimized Universal app will run faster and use less resources on machines with the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, M2, ‌M2‌ Pro, and ‌M2‌ Max chips.

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...

Top Rated Comments

barkomatic Avatar
40 months ago
I live in the States and use WhatsApp to talk to my friends in other countries that don't have iPhones. I don't know why people assume that something they don't personally use must be bad.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Love-hate ? relationship Avatar
40 months ago
This means WhatsApp for ipad is coming soon !!

Hopefully before 2040
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blairh Avatar
40 months ago

No one outside of Europe seems to use it for the most part. Why Europe seems to use it so much is beyond me.
LOL.

https://www.verint.com/blog/what-countries-are-the-biggest-whatsapp-users/

WhatsApp is better than iMessage. I wished more Americans used it.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
40 months ago

In Australia no one really uses WhatsApp
Over 12 million or 36 percent of Australian population is a lot of nobodys

https://www.socialmedianews.com.au/social-media-statistics-australia-march-2022/

Social Media Statistics Australia – March 2022

1. Facebook – 18,000,000 Monthly Active Australian Users (steady)
2. YouTube – 17,500,000 Unique Australian Visitors per month (UAVs)
3. WhatsApp – 12,000,000 Active Australian Users
4. Instagram – 10,000,000 Monthly Active Australian Users (FB/ Instagram data)
5. LinkedIn – 6,500,000 Monthly Active Australian Users approx


https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1187986/messenger-usage-by-brand-in-australia



Attachment Image
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kyjaotkb Avatar
40 months ago
Finally! Always fascinating to see reactions from Americans on here re: Whatsapp. Here in London, 95% of my contacts use iPhones and yet I exclusively use Apple Messages for 2FA codes and tracking updates. Virtually all green bubbles. Funny how iMessage quietly died down over the years. I know a few Apple hardcore fans who use iMessages but for the most part, Whatsapp is the universal app here.

Now it would be great if the 3-4 spyware apps (can you believe they still ise McAffee) my company installs on my M1Pro MBP moved to AS. The constant use of Rosetta means I never had more than 4.5 hours of battery on my 14-inch.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hexcalibur Avatar
40 months ago

Did you even read the article you posted? Accessing and using are two very different things. I downloaded and accessed the app once too and it counts me as a user even tho I’ve never even sent a message on there.
Outside of the US it's huge. Even in Canada I was surprised when I asked my students (university) how they communicated for group work and class notes and so on. The university makes MS Teams available for free and everyone has a university email account, but *every student* said they use WhatsApp for team projects and class work.

I use it to keep up with friends and family in Europe. It's the go-to app for texting. Excited to have a desktop client for my Mac, as I hate typing on my phone.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)