Why WhatsApp is not available for Windows 7?

The app doesn't update, unless I open WhatsApp on my phone right in front of the computer.

25% of the times it does update, it crashes, while the process keeps running in the background taking up like 50% of my CPU.

You may clear cookies or try to install the latest updates

by Matthew Adams

Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things... read more

Updated on November 11, 2022

Reviewed by Vlad Turiceanu

Passionate about technology, Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world. Coming... read more

• There can be a few factors behind WhatsApp Web not working, including a network connection or a browser issue. 
• Check if WhatsApp is down or not because the servers might have a problem and you might have to wait until the outage is fixed.
• Other platforms, such as an emulator, can be used to connect to WhatsApp and saves you plenty of time with emergency access. 

You have found this article because your WhatsApp Web is not working, and we will give you the most recommended resolutions.

WhatsApp Web enables Android and iOS users to open their messaging apps in PC browsers.

The WhatsApp blog states: Our web client is simply an extension of your phone: the web browser mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device.

Connecting to that web client should be relatively straightforward. However, some users have stated in forum posts that WhatsApp Web doesn’t work in their browsers.

Why isn’t the WhatsApp Web app working?

There can be a few factors behind this problem. First, the web client not working will probably be due to a network connection or browser issue.

Another usual inconvenience is that your phone doesn’t have a stable Internet connection, so the web app can’t connect with it.

Or it might be that the software users utilize isn’t compatible with WhatsApp Web. So what are the best solutions to fix WhatsApp Web?

First of all, check if WhatsApp is down or not. Then, focus on your browser, clear the cookies, install the latest updates and restore default settings.

If the issue persists, use additional troubleshooting solutions. You’ll find them below.

Quick Tip:

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Opera

Easily fix WhatsApp errors on your PC with this experienced browser with many popular apps and practical features.

How can I fix WhatsApp Web if it’s not working?

1. Is WhatsApp down?

1. Launch your browser.
2. Navigate to Down Detector.
3. Check the graph and WhatsApp server status.
   
   

Downdetector currently highlights that the WhatsApp server isn’t down. However, wait until the web client is back up if WhatsApp is down.

This should be your first check if WhatsApp Web is not working on Chrome, Edge, Safari, Brave, or any other PC or Mac browser.

2. Check for browser updates

1. Launch the browser.
2. Click on the menu icon at the top right browser corner.
   
   
3. Click Help and select About Google Chrome.
   
   
4. Wait for the browser to check for updates automatically. If there are any, they will be installed, and you should restart the browser.
   
   

Once the browser is updated, please try a different solution if the WhatsApp web is still not working.

3. Clear browser cookies

1. Launch the browser.
2. Click on the menu icon at the top right browser corner.
   
   
3. From the options, select More tools, then Clear browsing data.
   
   
4. Choose the Basic tab, then select a Time range from the menu.
   
   
5. Check options for Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, Cached images and files, and click the Clear data button.
   
   

WhatsApp Web not working might be due to corrupted browser cookies. That’s especially the case when any cookie error message appears in the browser.

We tested that the best method to assure effective WhatsApp Web performance is to run the free version of CCleaner every day, shortly after startup and before opening your browser.

This resolves WhatsApp Web’s display issues, removes most freezes, and ensures fast performance.

If WhatsApp Web is still not being shown correctly, try the Cookies to Keep feature. Whatever is erased the first time, it should be back up and running, and you shouldn’t have freezing issues with WhatsApp Web anymore.

⇒ Get CCleaner

4. Reset the browser

1. Input the path below in the browser’s URL bar, and press the Enter key.
   chrome://settings/
2. On the left pane, choose the Reset and clean up option, then from the right pane, select Restore settings to their original defaults.
   
   
3. Click the Reset settings button.
   
   

Browser reset options can be handy for fixing web apps and clients that don’t work.

Most browsers include resetting options to restore them to their default settings, erase browsing data (such as cookies), and turn off extensions.

Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken.
We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.
Click here to download and start repairing.

Thus, resetting a browser will clear its data and ensure there aren’t any extensions that might hamper a web app or page.

5. Open WhatsApp from a PC with an Android emulator

LDPlayer is a free Android emulator that employs virtualization technologies to let you experiment with the Android operating system on your computer. This is one of the most effective and lightweight Android emulators for Windows.

With LDPlayer you can install WhatsApp from System Apps, and Play Store after you download and install the freeware on your Windows OS. 

WhatsApp is significantly easier to use on a computer. Instead of staring at tiny screens and using little on-screen keyboards, you can view your messages clearly on a large screen.

Your friends will be amazed at how swiftly you answer if you use your keyboard instead of your touch-screen keyboard.

As a result, LDPlayer has made it simple for you to use WhatsApp Messenger on your PC.

6. Turn off VPN software

1. Click on the Start menu and select Settings.
   
   
2. Click on Network & internet and then select Proxy on the right pane.
   
   
3. Under the Manual proxy setup, click Edit.
   
   
4. Toggle off the switch.
   
   

VPN client software and networks can generate connectivity issues with WhatsApp Web. So, users should turn off VPN software before opening WhatsApp Web in their browsers.

Users can usually disable VPNs in Windows 10 and 11 by right-clicking their VPN software system tray icons and selecting the Disconnect option.

The software might then provide some further instructions for disconnecting.

7. Turn Airplane Mode on and off on phones

1. Drag down the notification tray of your phone.
2. Tap on the Airplane Mode icon.
   
   
3. Tap the Airplane Mode icon again.

WhatsApp Web might not work because of phone connectivity issues. The web client is, after all, an extension of mobile devices.

Toggling Airplane Mode on and off can fix Android and iOS mobile connections.

Note that if you have upgraded to the latest WhatsApp Web versions, it will not matter whether or not your phone has a connection.

8. Try it on Incognito Mode

1. Click on the menu and select New Incognito window.
   
   
2. Navigate to WhatsApp Web.
3. Open WhatsApp on your mobile device.
4. Navigate Settings, then click Link a Device.
   
   
5. Scan the barcode on your computer.
   
   

9. Open the Internet Connections troubleshooter

1. Click on the Start menu and select Settings.
   
   
2. On the left pane, scroll down and click on Troubleshoot.
   
   
3. Click on Other troubleshooters.
   
   
4. Under Internet Connections click Run.
   
   

10. Zoom into the WhatsApp web page to scan the QR code

To utilize the app’s web client, WhatsApp users must capture a QR code with their phones. Low-resolution phone cameras don’t always capture the QR code clearly.

As such, WhatsApp Web doesn’t work for users who can’t capture QR codes with their mobile cameras.

To ensure your phone captures the QR code, try zooming in to the WhatsApp Web page by pressing the Ctrl and + hotkey. This will zoom in on the page and expand the QR code. Then try scanning the QR code again.

What can I do if WhatsApp Web is not working after update?

This is another issue some users have faced. However, you must note that if you encounter problems with the web service after an update, the solutions listed above will still work.

In most cases, make sure your internet connection is working correctly. You can also attempt rebooting your device. A reboot is a simple way of forcing processes that may be interrupting WhatsApp to shut down properly.

The above resolutions might fix WhatsApp Web for many users, but if more fixes are required, check out this WhatsApp connectivity article.

Users have also complained of WhatsApp Web not working on a mobile browser or tablet. You should know that this is normal. The web service is made for desktop browsers. On a mobile device, you are expected to use the mobile app.

However, the solutions we have highlighted may be adopted for cases of WhatsApp Web not working on Mac or Windows 11.

We’d like to hear more from you on this matter, so don’t hesitate to drop a comment in the dedicated section below.

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