WhatsApp Unveils Public Beta Program for WhatsApp Desktop App

WhatsApp has unveiled a public beta program for the WhatsApp Desktop app.

As part of its upcoming multi-device feature that will let you use WhatsApp on multiple devices at once, the Facebook-owned company has now made available a public beta of WhatsApp Desktop and WhatsApp Web, explains a new report from WABetaInfo.

According to the report, the present WhatsApp beta also offers a new animation while recording voice notes, and users can now pause a voice note and hear the audio before sending it. This feature is currently under development on WhatsApp for iOS, the report says.

Users also can send bug reports if they’re signed up for the beta programme. To report a bug, users can open WhatsApp Desktop Settings > Contact Us, and send a screenshot.

WhatsApp is is also working on bringing multi-device compatibility, allowing users to remain connected to WhatsApp without requiring their smartphones.

“Multi-device means that users will have the same functionality that is available on the current public versions of WhatsApp Web, Desktop and Portal, just without the need to have your phone connected,” a WhatsApp spokesperson told TechRadar. “Our multi-device capability immediately makes the experience better for people who use Desktop/Web and Portal. And it also will make it possible to add support for more kinds of devices over time.”

At this point, however, no ETA is available as to when the multi-device support could see the daylight, though it is said that the company is already internally testing early versions.

The public beta has been launched to improve support for multi-device functionality as well as have more people test the upcoming features in order to provide feedback. Users who enroll in the beta program become official beta testers for WhatsApp and will receive all beta updates automatically.

If you’re interested in becoming a public beta tester of WhatsApp on the desktop, download the beta version of the app here.