WhatsApp announced the deprecation of the Electron app for Mac

WhatsApp has announced the deprecation of the Electron-based Desktop application on Mac, prompting users to switch to the Catalyst app to ensure a more optimized experience. This transition aims to enhance performance and integrate better with the latest macOS features.

Last year, WhatsApp announced the deprecation of the Windows Electron-based app as it fully transitioned to a new native application. The move was part of a broader strategy to enhance performance, reliability, and user experience by leveraging the native capabilities of operating systems. WhatsApp also released a new beta app for Mac, aiming to further improve integration with macOS features. The new Mac app, built using Catalyst to bring the iPad version to macOS, offered improved speed, better system integration, and a more responsive interface, providing users with an enhanced experience. However, they chose to keep the Electron-based app for Mac users available alongside the Catalyst app as the app lacked some features that were still available in the Electron version. After further development and improvements, the Catalyst Mac app has reached a level where it provides a more robust experience. Consequently, WhatsApp is officially announcing the deprecation of the Electron-based app for Mac as well.

As you can see from the attached screenshot, users of the Electron app on Mac are now being notified that this app will no longer be available in 54 days. To maintain access to WhatsApp on a desktop computer, they are encouraged to switch to the new Catalyst app, which will preserve all their chats and contacts. The Catalyst app is anticipated to deliver better performance, enhanced security, and improved integration with macOS features compared to the Electron-based version, with additional improvements expected to be introduced in the future.

It is important to note that, while the Electron framework allows developers to easily create apps that work on multiple operating systems with a single codebase, native apps often perform better and are more efficient because they are specifically designed for a particular operating system. As a result, WhatsApp chose to build a Catalyst app to ensure their users have the best possible experience over time. After the transition, users will notice a significant improvement in app performance, responsiveness, and overall stability.

Since the WhatsApp Desktop app for Mac built with the Electron framework will not be available starting in late October, users need to download the Catalyst desktop app for Mac from the official WhatsApp website. While the new Mac Catalyst app brings significant improvements in speed, system integration, and reduce resource consumption, some features, such as the community tab and channels, may not be available initially. These features are expected to be rolled out in future updates, as WhatsApp continues to enhance and expand the functionality of the app to deliver a better user experience.

Stay up-to-date on WhatsApp news by following WABetaInfo on X. You can also discover other new features for WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows.

Do you like this news? Please, let us know on Twitter: we love hearing your feedback! If you're curious to know where you can find WABetaInfo, there is a dedicated page where you can discover our services.
In addition, we have set up a Discord Server where you can chat with other people, get help and advice, and stay up to date with the latest announcements from WABetaInfo.