Although it began as a mere messaging tool, the truth is that today WhatsApp is much more than that, and it has become an essential platform even in work circumstances. That said, if you’re having trouble communicating with your contacts because it constantly shuts down or crashes, today We analyze what to do when the WhatsApp desktop app does not work on your computer.
The fact is that although we can always resort to WhatsApp Web, as an absolutely valid alternative that replicates most of the WhatsApp application for Windows, in this case we did not want to stop looking possible solutions to these inconveniences of the official client of the messenger for the Microsoft OS.
Solutions that will help both those who have problems to start using the WhatsApp desktop app, and those who can launch it at first, but then experience different obstacles.
What are the causes of the WhatsApp app crashing on PC?
Since WhatsApp is available for computers, they have been collected various application errors, related to situations that range from an outdated operating system, to an old version of the application, through installations that have not been completed as they should, and that affect its use.
Repair WhatsApp application in Windows 10 or Windows 11
Since more and more people intend to use WhatsApp on several devices at the same time, we recommend that you follow these steps if for any reason or reason you experience problems when running its native app.
Install pending Windows updates
As we said, first of all you have to make sure that your operating system is completely updated. Regardless of whether it is Windows 10 or Windows 11, you must go to Windows updates, check if there are pending updates and, if so, proceed directly to install them on your PC.
Update the WhatsApp desktop app
In case your Windows 10 or Windows 11 operating system is updated, the next step has to do with updating the WhatsApp desktop application, something that should occur automatically, but that on certain occasions delays, or is disabled, causing it to close unexpectedly.
- Open the Microsoft Store and go to the Library
- Once there, go to Get updates by pressing that button
- Check the available updates, and if there is one from WhatsApp, proceed to install
Alternatively, you can download the executable from this link on the official WhatsApp website, which will give you the certainty of knowing that we are always talking about the latest version of the instant messaging application.
Disable WhatsApp notifications
As curious as it may seem, disabling WhatsApp notifications may be another solution at hand. Many times when notifications fail, errors about applications occur.
Therefore, the alternative is to take advantage of the WhatsApp Settings to disable them, like this:
- Launch the WhatsApp desktop client
- Open, click on the three-point menu, in the upper right corner
- Then, you have to click on the Settings section, and then on the Notifications section
- Once there, uncheck all notifications, including sound, desktop alerts and call alerts, etc.
When you have done it, restart the WhatsApp application and see if it now runs as it should.
Run the WhatsApp Update.exe file again
If the WhatsApp desktop app is not working yet, there are some tricks you can try, such as rerun the WhatsApp Update.exe file, restarting it so that it removes the defects on its own.
- Open the Task Manager, and close all the processes related to the WhatsApp desktop app
- Press the hot keys Windows + R, to open the Run dialog box
- Once inside the dialog box, you must go to% localappdata% WhatsApp
- Right-click on the executable or update file, and click Run as administrator
- Let the application update, which is what it will do, and when it finishes restart your computer
Rename the WhatsApp Update.exe file
If the previous methods have not given good results, and as there may be damage to the WhatsApp desktop application file, what remains is to try renaming the file.
The secret is that the new files will be automatically retrieved from the servers when the application is updated. This is why it is worth a try, rather than proceeding directly to a reinstall.
- Open the Task Manager, and close all the processes related to the WhatsApp desktop app
- Press the hot keys Windows + R, to open the Run dialog box
- Once inside the dialog box, you must go to% localappdata% WhatsApp
- Rename the file to something like Update.exe to oldupdate.exe
- Restart WhatsApp to see if the problem is fully resolved
Reinstall the WhatsApp desktop client
The last resort to solve the problem is to reinstall the WhatsApp desktop client since, as we alerted at the beginning of this article, you could be dealing with a corrupted installation of the app.
Then you must uninstall the WhatsApp desktop software, exactly the same way you do with any other of the applications. And then reinstall it from this link from the official website.
