How to use WhatsApp Business on PC: Web, desktop app and limits

To use WhatsApp Business on a PC, open web.whatsapp.com in your browser or install the free WhatsApp desktop app, then on your phone open WhatsApp Business, tap Linked devices > Link a device and scan the QR code shown on the computer. You do not need a separate "WhatsApp Business for PC" download: WhatsApp Web and the desktop app carry the Business tools for a Business account^[1][2].

This guide is for shop owners, freelancers, agents and small teams, in India and elsewhere, who answer customers from a computer. It covers both ways to connect, the rules for linked devices, what the Business app can and cannot do on a PC, and how a CRM extension adds a sales pipeline, reminders and labels on top of WhatsApp Web.

Two ways to use WhatsApp Business on a computer

Both options mirror the account on your phone. Your chats, contacts and business profile live in the WhatsApp Business account; the computer gives you a bigger screen and a real keyboard.

	WhatsApp Web	WhatsApp desktop app
Where it runs	A browser tab at web.whatsapp.com	A program installed on Windows or Mac
Installation	None	From the Microsoft Store (Windows) or the App Store (Mac)[3][4]
Price	Free	Free[3][4]
Works with a Business account	Yes	Yes
Uses one of your linked-device slots	Yes	Yes
Can run Chrome extensions	Yes, in Chrome and other Chromium browsers	No, it is not a browser
Good for	Any computer, quick access, adding a CRM extension	Keeping WhatsApp in its own window, apart from your browser tabs

On a Mac, the App Store listing says WhatsApp requires macOS 12.1 or later^[4]. On Windows, the app is a free download from the Microsoft Store^[3]. If your computer cannot run the app, WhatsApp Web works in a browser instead.

How to use WhatsApp Business on WhatsApp Web, step by step

1. Open WhatsApp Web. On your computer, type web.whatsapp.com into the address bar yourself. A QR code appears on the screen.
2. Open WhatsApp Business on your phone. On Android, tap the three-dot menu. On iPhone, open Settings.
3. Tap Linked devices, then Link a device. Your phone may ask you to unlock it first.
4. Scan the QR code. Point the phone's camera at the code on the computer screen.
5. Start replying. Your chats appear in the browser tab. Keep the tab open while you work.

On a shared or office computer, log out when you finish: on your phone, open Linked devices, tap the computer in the list and choose Log out. Never scan a WhatsApp QR code on a site you reached through an ad or a forwarded link.

How to install the WhatsApp desktop app for a Business account

1. Download the app. On Windows, open the Microsoft Store, search for WhatsApp and install the official WhatsApp app. On a Mac, do the same in the App Store.
2. Open the app. It shows a QR code, just like WhatsApp Web.
3. Link it from your phone. In WhatsApp Business, tap Linked devices > Link a device and scan the code.

The desktop app has no separate Business edition. Link a WhatsApp Business account and the Business tools appear, such as labels and quick replies^[1].

Want personal and Business WhatsApp on the same computer? Link one account to the desktop app and the other to WhatsApp Web, or use two browser profiles. Each session counts as a linked device on its own account.

Linked-device rules you should know

WhatsApp Web and the desktop app are "linked devices". WhatsApp's Help Center sets these rules^[2]:

• Up to four at a time. You can link up to four devices to your primary phone at the same time.
• The phone can be offline. Linked devices work without your phone online, but they log out if the phone is unused for over 14 days.
• Inactive devices are disconnected. WhatsApp automatically disconnects a linked device after 30 days of inactivity.
• A computer cannot be the main device. Windows, Mac and Web can't be used as the primary device on an account. You still need the phone to create the account and to link each computer.

Need more than four? WhatsApp says businesses on Meta Verified can link up to 10 devices and agents to their account^[5]. Check whether Meta Verified is offered in your country before you plan around it.

What WhatsApp Business can and cannot do on a PC

Most day-to-day replying works on a computer. A few features stay on the phone.

Feature	On WhatsApp Web and desktop
Quick replies	Yes. Press "/" on your keyboard in a chat to pick a quick reply and send it[1]
Labels	Yes. WhatsApp brought labels to Web and Desktop in 2019[1]. In the Business app, WhatsApp is gradually turning labels into lists, so the names on screen can differ (more in labels on WhatsApp Web)
Chat filters	Yes. Filter by unread messages or groups[1]
Catalogue	Yes. Businesses can create and manage their catalogue from WhatsApp Web or Desktop, an option added in April 2021[6]
Broadcast lists	No. Creating and viewing broadcast lists isn't supported on linked devices[2]
Live location	No. Viewing a live location isn't supported on linked devices[2]
Greeting and away messages	Part of the Business app[5]. If a setting does not show on the computer, open the phone app and look under Business tools

A simple routine: set up your business profile, greeting and away messages on the phone once, then do your daily replying from the computer.

The gaps that remain when you sell from a computer

WhatsApp Business on a PC is a good inbox. It is not a sales system. These are the questions a small business usually still cannot answer at a glance:

• Where is each deal? Labels say what a chat is about, but there is no board showing who is new, who is negotiating and who has paid.
• When do I follow up? A label tells you what a chat is, not the day you promised to get back to the customer.
• Who owns this chat? Four linked devices let four computers open the same inbox. Everyone sees every chat, and the Help Center page on linked devices describes no way to assign a chat to one colleague^[2].
• How do I message a list from my desk? Broadcast lists are not available on linked devices, so this means going back to the phone^[2].
• Can I keep a copy of my customer list? A chat backup protects your messages, but a list of customers by stage, with notes, is something you have to build and keep yourself.

If you are still deciding between the two apps, read WhatsApp Business vs normal WhatsApp.

How a CRM extension fills the gaps on WhatsApp Web

A Chrome extension runs inside web.whatsapp.com and adds a layer on top of it. Zapext adds a CRM to the account you already use, regular or Business, on the same number. It does not use the official WhatsApp Business API, and you do not migrate anything. Because it is a browser extension, it works in WhatsApp Web, not in the WhatsApp desktop app.

• Kanban pipeline. Every chat becomes a card that you drag between stages such as New contact, Negotiating and Closed. See Kanban on WhatsApp Web.
• Labels on any account. Sort customers by interest, source or status, even on a regular WhatsApp account. See labels in WhatsApp Web.
• Reminders and scheduling. Set the day to get back to each customer and schedule messages, which go out while WhatsApp Web is open. Read how to set follow-up reminders.
• Quick replies with media. Save text, audio, media and files as ready-made messages and send them in one click. More in quick replies on WhatsApp Web.
• Keyword auto-reply. Answer repeated questions, such as opening hours and your address, as soon as they arrive.
• Voice message transcription. Read the voice notes you receive instead of stopping to listen. See how to transcribe WhatsApp voice messages.
• Privacy mode. Blur chat content on screen when someone is next to you, useful in a shop or an open office.
• Sending to contact lists. Send the same message to contacts who agreed to receive it, from your computer. Messages go out gradually, not all at once.
• Backup, import and export. Take your CRM data with you whenever you want.
• Team on one number (Plus). Up to 4 users on the same number, with chat transfer and round-robin distribution among agents. See multiple users on one WhatsApp number.

Where the data lives: your CRM data (pipeline, labels and notes) is stored encrypted on your computer. Zapext never asks for your WhatsApp password; you log in with a separate Zapext account. For permissions and data handling, see the security page.

Zapext is published on the Chrome Web Store, where it had 552 users and a 5.0 rating from 45 reviews when we checked on 24 Oct 2026^[7].

Set it up in a few minutes

1. Add the extension. On your computer, open the Zapext page on the Chrome Web Store and click "Add to Chrome", then "Add extension".
2. Open WhatsApp Web. Go to web.whatsapp.com and link your WhatsApp Business account with the QR code, as described above. That is WhatsApp's login, not Zapext's.
3. Find the Zapext tab. Zapext appears as a tab on the left side of the screen.
4. Log in. Click the avatar icon and log in with your email and password, or create your Zapext account right there.

For a wider view of what extensions can add, read the WhatsApp extension guide and the WhatsApp CRM guide.

Limits and good practice

• Desktop only. Zapext works on a desktop or laptop in Google Chrome or another Chromium browser, such as Edge, Brave, Opera or Vivaldi. It does not run on Firefox or Safari, and there is no mobile version.
• The computer must be on. The chatbot, scheduled messages and list sending run inside WhatsApp Web. They work only while your computer is on and WhatsApp Web is open. If the computer is off, nothing is sent or answered.
• Linked-device slots. Each computer that opens WhatsApp Web uses one of the four linked-device slots on the account^[2]. Plan your team around that.
• One licence, one number. One Zapext licence covers one WhatsApp number. Starter is for 1 user; Plus allows up to 4 users on the same number.
• Message responsibly. Only message people who agreed to hear from you, keep volumes reasonable and send to lists gradually, within WhatsApp's Terms of Service and Business Messaging Policy^[8][9]. No tool can stop WhatsApp from restricting a number that breaks its rules. Read 9 rules to reduce the risk of bans before you send to a list.

What it costs

WhatsApp Web and the WhatsApp desktop app are free^[3][4]. Zapext is a flat monthly or yearly price, not a fee per conversation, and there is no lock-in.

• Global: Starter ≈ US$ 57/year (≈ US$ 4.76/month) or ≈ US$ 9.60/month; Plus ≈ US$ 192/year or ≈ US$ 25/month (charged in Brazilian reais, BRL, at 5.2 BRL/USD on 28 Sep 2026)^[10]. See pricing.
• India: Starter ₹699/month or ₹6,990/year; Plus ₹1,799/month, paid by card in rupees^[11]. See India pricing.

Paid plans include a 7-day money-back guarantee, and you can cancel anytime^[12].

Already using WhatsApp Business on your computer? Add a pipeline and reminders to the same number: Install on Chrome.

Sources

1. [1] About linked devices — WhatsApp Help Center — WhatsApp (2024). accessed 2026-10-25.
2. [2] Celebrating one year of WhatsApp Business with new web and desktop features — WhatsApp Blog (2019-01-24). accessed 2026-10-25.
3. [3] WhatsApp makes shopping easy on its business platform — ETV Bharat (IANS) (2021-04-07). accessed 2026-10-25.
4. [4] WhatsApp Business app features — WhatsApp (Meta) (2026). accessed 2026-10-25.
5. [5] WhatsApp for Windows — Microsoft Store — Microsoft Store (2026). accessed 2026-10-25.
6. [6] WhatsApp Messenger — App Store — Apple (2026). accessed 2026-10-25.
7. [7] Zapext — Chrome Web Store listing (users, ratings and current version) — Chrome Web Store (Google) (2026). accessed 2026-10-24.
8. [8] WhatsApp Terms of Service — WhatsApp LLC (2021-01-04). accessed 2026-10-24.
9. [9] WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy — WhatsApp (2026-09-23). accessed 2026-10-25.
10. [10] Zapext — Plans and pricing (charged in Brazilian reais, BRL, with US dollar estimates) — Zapext (2026). accessed 2026-10-24.
11. [11] Zapext — Plans for India (prices in Indian rupees, INR) — Zapext (2026). accessed 2026-10-25.
12. [12] Zapext — Terms of use (plans, payments and refunds) — Zapext (2026). accessed 2026-10-24.