Brand New WhatsApp Desktop App is Now Available in Pakistan

WhatsApp has officially launched its new desktop app in Pakistan, but the latest update might not be what users were expecting. Instead of continuing with the native Windows version, Meta has replaced it with a web-based version that uses Microsoft’s WebView2 technology, a move already rolled out in international markets.

Having used it for a while, however, we at ProPakistani can tell that it’s already a little bit smoother with more convenient features than the previous WhatsApp desktop. Its also a lot more aesthetically pleasing than the previous WhatsApp Desktop app, which was rather bland.

If you don’t have the new app yet, sit tight because it has not reached everyone yet, but it should happen soon.

Here are the details.

From Native to Web Wrapper

The older desktop app for Windows was built as a native Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app, offering a “faster and more responsive” experience. But let’s face it, it was not a great app and would often lag and crash.

Now, WhatsApp has returned to a web-wrapper model. This means the new app is essentially a packaged version of the browser-based WhatsApp Web, rather than a full desktop application. Maybe it’s for the better? Only time will tell.

Higher RAM Usage Concerns

This change may negatively affect performance, especially on older or budget PCs. According to Windows Latest, the new version (2.2584.3.0) can consume up to 2GB of RAM under heavy use, a significant jump from the roughly 120 MB used by the older native app during similar activity. For many users in Pakistan who rely on WhatsApp as their main messaging platform, this could lead to a sluggish experience.

However, even on older laptops in Pakistan, the native desktop app performed terribly.

Simpler Interface, Fewer Features

Along with the backend change, the new app also brings a more basic interface. Notifications may behave differently, and settings now appear more stripped down compared to the native version. Some new features have been added, including support for WhatsApp Channels and better integration with Status and Communities, but the overall design no longer aligns with the Windows 11 aesthetic.

Why the Change?

Meta is reportedly shifting to this web-based model to simplify development. By using WebView2, the company can maintain one core version of WhatsApp across platforms, instead of building and updating separate native apps for Windows, macOS, and other systems. So even if some features are missing, it should not be long before they arrive in the new WhatsApp desktop.