WhatsApp ending support for one of the versions of the messenger

The developers of the WhatsApp messenger are officially ending support for the Windows desktop app built on the Electron framework.

According to the WABetaInfo portal, when opening the old WhatsApp application on Windows, users are now prompted to uninstall it and download the new version of the native application, which can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store or the WhatsApp website.

The deprecation of the old version, according to the developers, is aimed at providing a more optimized, stable and feature-rich messaging experience on desktop devices. However, some users expressed dissatisfaction with the quick transition and the temporary lack of business tools in the new application. Missing features include business quick replies, store catalog management, and more.

Note that Electron-based WhatsApp appeared in 2016. It was a regular web version of the messenger, designed as a separate application. Later, in 2022, the company released the native application developed from scratch, which is devoid of all the shortcomings of Electron, including poor performance and slow interface animations.