If you use WhatsApp on your Mac with Apple Silicon, you’re in luck. WhatsApp has begun to update the desktop application of its messaging service with native support for those Macs with M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, M2 chips, M2 Pro and M2 Maxthus allowing a better overall performance and preventing the app from consuming more resources compared to the currently available version.
Until now, WhatsApp could run without problems on Macs with ARM chips thanks to Rosetta 2, which allows apps designed exclusively for computers with Intel processors to open on computers with Apple’s own chip. Using Rosetta, however, causes the application to consume more resources, be slower or in some cases not work correctlywhich can weigh down the user experience.
Now, with WhatsApp support for Apple Silicon, therefore, these problems are solved. The app should open faster, run more smoothly, and consume fewer resources, which will benefit overall computer performance and autonomy. The interface also has been redesigned to adapt it to the style of native macOS apps.
How to already have the new version of WhatsApp compatible with Apple Silicon
The new version, yes, is currently available in beta, although any user can try it if they follow the steps below.
First, you need to access to this section from the WhatsApp website, go to the ‘Mac Users’ option and click on the link that appears in the first pointeither. If you prefer, you can also download the beta straight from here.
Next, access the download section of your browser and click on the most recent file. When your Mac opens the installer, just drag the WhatsApp app to the applications folder. If you have the stable version of the service installed, you will be asked if you want to duplicate or replace the app.
It is best to choose the ‘Save both’ option, so you can use the stable version in the event that the beta does not work correctly. You can distinguish both versions by the app icon. The stable app has the characteristic green color of WhatsApp. The beta version icon, on the other hand, is yellow.
Once the trial version is installed, all you have to do is access the launch pad from your Mac, open the WhatsApp beta and link your account through your mobile app.
In any case, it is likely that the final version of the WhatsApp app with support for Apple Silicon will be available in the coming weeks. Users will be able to download the new version through the App Store or wait for the app to update automatically.