There are many messaging applications that are at our disposal to start a conversation, calls, video calls or conferences. However, the most widespread option in the world is undoubtedly WhatsApp, only closely competing with the social networking application Facebook Messenger.
If you're looking for a way to chat online while using your Android tablet or iPad, then the answer is at your fingertips: its name is WhatsApp web.
In this article we'll explore what it is, how you can set it up and run it on a tablet, as well as some tips and FAQs on using this messaging app's web service.
What is WhatsApp web
We all know that WhatsApp is a very popular messaging application, but not everyone knows that a few years ago Chrome released a browser extension called WhatsApp web.
It is an alternative that allows users to chat from their tablet or computer without installing an app.
WhatsApp Web offers many of the same features as the native app, with one exception: You can't send voice messages. Although this can be fixed by purchasing the Premium option, which also provides other additional features, such as video calls, and costs only $1.99 per year.
How to use WhatsApp web from an Android tablet
As we mentioned before, for use WhatsApp web on any of your devices apart from mobileLet's say tablet or computer, all you need is to have a compatible browser (Brave, Chrome, Firefox, etc).
Next, we explain the process in detail:
Open WhatsApp Web in the tablet's browser
When the window loads, you will find the step by step, very simple, to carry out the configuration.
Scan the QR code with your phone
The next thing is to open the WhatsApp application on your mobile and click on the three dots in the upper right corner. A menu will be displayed where you will notice that the third option is "Whatsapp Web".
Upon entering this section we have a button that says "Link another device", and when pressed, the app will ask us to enter the blocking method that we have enabled on our mobile, say pattern, numeric code or biometric parameter.
A QR code scanner will be activated immediately, which we will use to scan the one that appears on the tablet screen. After that both devices will have been paired.
Once the code has been successfully scanned, we will have both devices synchronized. We will find that each conversation, as well as the contacts with whom we have not yet started a chat, will appear on the screen of your Android or iPad tablet.
As it is a version of WhatsApp for PC or an extension, we will proceed to create the shortcut from the browser, by clicking on the "Add page to home screen" section in the configuration menu.
So that we will have an icon very similar to an app, from which we can access WhatsApp Web without any problem, almost as if it were the native application.
Advantages of using the WhatsApp application on a tablet
Many people decide install an application to use WhatsApp on a tablet, instead of using the web version, because of course it has its benefits:
- No synchronization or Internet connection is required to view the messages sent and received from the application installed on the tablet.
- You get convenience when reading and writing messages, as well as viewing files, due to the larger screen size.
- It has the same functions that you would have on a phone.
Disadvantages of using the WhatsApp application on a tablet
Of course, we also have negative points when it comes to install an online messaging app like WhatsApp on a device that doesn't have access to a SIM card:
- One of the problems with this option is that you won't be able to see your previous chats, since the app will start as if you had changed your device.
- Conversations are not synced, so what you send and receive on your tablet won't show up on your phone, and vice versa.
- It will take up more space than the web version since the downloaded files are saved in the tablet's memory.
Advantages of using WhatsApp web from an Android tablet
After learning how to use WhatsApp web, you can apply these steps to your laptop or as many tablets as you like.
That is why we are talking about the many advantages of the web version of WhatsApp:
- When WhatsApp is synced on other devices, all sent and received chats and files are displayed, as well as each group and its options.
- The files of each chat can be downloaded to the synchronized device, which is very convenient for viewing images, text documents, etc.
- If you have a hybrid tablet or one you use with a Bluetooth keyboard, typing messages can be done faster and more efficiently.
- WhatsApp Web is extremely secure, so your privacy is not compromised at any time.
- You don't need a chip to use it.
Disadvantages of using WhatsApp web from an Android tablet
How to Live Aligned with WhatsApp cannot be used on more than one Android device, WhatsApp web is the only totally secure option to get the same messaging service on tablets or computers.
And of course, although there are more pros, it also has its cons:
- Whatsapp web is not a standalone mobile app, so it only reflects what you send from the active app on your smartphone.
- It is impossible to sync and view messages, contacts, or conversations when the tablet or computer is not connected to the Internet.
- Unless you use WhatsApp Web on only one device in addition to your mobile, you will need to scan the QR code to log in frequently, due to the manufacturer's security protocols.
- In the free version there is no functionality for audio messages or video calls, but you have to pay a Premium subscription, although it is very cheap if we are going to actively use the web option.
- You cannot make security, privacy settings, or change the phone number.
- It is not possible to add contacts or set up automatic download.