WhatsApp makes beta of macOS app publicly available

WhatsApp has made available a download of a beta for a macOS app for its service. The Meta subsidiary has so far only had a Windows app for desktops, but released a closed beta last year.

The beta is now available for everyone to download as a dmg file from the site from WhatsApp, notes WABetaInfo. This is version 2.23.1.75. WhatsApp asks users for feedback in the setup screen to help find bugs in the app. A closed version of the beta has been available for several months; the public download is new.

It’s about a Catalyst app. This allows developers to reuse code from iOS and iPadOS apps in the Mac version to make the transition easier. The app works on all Mac devices with an M1 or M2 processor, but some Intel Macs are also compatible with the app.

Compared to the web version, the app should perform better, there is a bar on the side and users can send files via drag-and-drop via the chat app. It is unknown when the stable version of the Mac app will be released.

WhatsApp on macOS. Source: WABetaInfo