Facebook launches WhatsApp desktop app for Windows, Mac

The app runs on Windows 8 and above and Mac OS 10.9 and above.

WhatsApp launches new instant messaging smartphone service on Mac and Windows desktops. Photo: Collin Furtado

Social media giant Facebook has made available its WhatsApp instant messaging smartphone service on Mac and Windows desktops, media reports said on Wednesday.

"The new desktop app mirrors your mobile device, allowing you to message friends and family while your phone is in your pocket," CNET.com quoted WhatsApp as saying.

Because it runs natively on your desktop as opposed to through an app on your browser, the app allows for native notifications and better keyboard shortcuts, WhatsApp said in a post.

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The app runs on Windows 8 and above and Mac OS 10.9 and above. To sync the newly-launched Facebook-owned desktop app with smartphone, open the app and scan the QR code with your phone.

After several months of beta testing, Facebook recently rolled out Facebook and Messenger apps on Windows 10. The company also updated photo-sharing Instagram app for Windows 10 mobile.

Facebook for Windows 10 starts and loads News Feed much faster than previous Facebook desktop applications.

The new app has built-in desktop notifications feature and a user can pin a new Facebook Live Tile that will show the user latest updates from friends, family and Pages.

Meanwhile, the Messenger for Windows 10 has features, including stickers, group conversations and GIFs.

The Messenger for Windows has native desktop notifications and a feature that lets a user see unread messages with a "Live Tile".

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