WhatsApp is a mobile-first instant messaging service owned by Meta, featuring end-to-end encryption. It requires an active cell phone number and data connection to operate.
There is no official WhatsApp desktop client for Linux, and Meta has strictly attempted to ban third-party clients and plugins using their protocol. You might want to avoid using WhatsApp altogether in favor of IM services with more openness, such as XMPP, signal-desktop, Telegram, ICQ, or Matrix.
Installation
You can use one of following methods in order to use WhatsApp in Arch:
Web
- WhatsApp Web, the only official way of using WhatsApp on Linux.
Tip for Chromium users who use only one profile
- Create and configure a new Chromium profile.
- Open WhatsApp Web in the new profile.
- Install WhatsApp Web as an app (Hamburger menu > More tools > Create shortcut...).
- Set the
--profile-directory=Defaultflag. See Chromium#Making flags persistent for more details.
This way, WhatsApp Web will always open in the new profile while links and other shortcuts will open in your default profile. You can clear browsing data without worrying about it clearing your WhatsApp login.
Web-based clients
- whatsapp-nativefierAUR, a desktop wrapper of WhatsApp Web built using nodejs-nativefierAUR.
- franzAUR, an open-source Chrome-based application that can be used for web-based interface of various instant messaging software including WhatsApp.
- ferdiAUR, a community fork of franz.
- rambox-binAUR, like Franz, a web-based wrapper for various instant messaging software including WhatsApp.
- whatsapp-for-linuxAUR, an unofficial WhatsApp desktop application for Linux.
TUI-based clients
- whatscli — TUI-based experimental WhatsApp application. Supports Vim-like navigation natively.