WhatsApp requires no introduction. It’s one of the, if not the most, popular messenger services out there. WhatsApp, now owned by Facebook, is available for all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
WhatsApp for Windows operating system is called WhatsApp Desktop. The WhatsApp Desktop version offers all the features available in the smartphone version except a few ones.
If you are having issues while opening or using the WhatsApp Desktop on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC, you can reset it to fix the problem. Here is how to reset WhatsApp Desktop on Windows 11/10.
Note that resetting WhatsApp will delete all the data saved in it. Also, you will have to sign in to WhatsApp again after the successful reset.
Reset WhatsApp Desktop app in Windows 11/10
Step 1: Open the Windows 11 Settings app.
Step 2: On the left side, click Apps. Now, on the right side, click Apps & features.
Step 3: Here, in the installed apps list, look for the WhatsApp entry. Note that you can also use the search bar on the same page to quickly find the WhatsApp entry.
Step 4: Now, click on the hamburger menu icon (three vertically stacked dots) next to the WhatsApp entry and then click the “Advanced options” option.
NOTE: If “Advanced options” is not showing up, it’s likely because you have not installed WhatsApp Desktop from the Windows 11/10 Store. The WhatsApp Desktop downloaded from the official WhatsApp desktop (desktop version) does not support reset.
Step 5: Finally, in the Reset section, click the Reset button to reset WhatsApp. Click the Reset button when you are asked for confirmation. A check mark will appear next to the Reset button once the reset job is completed.
Note that the data will be deleted. The same page also offers a repair which you can try if resetting the app does not fix the issue.
You may now open WhatsApp and sign in to check if the issue is fixed.
Can I use WhatsApp in Windows 11/10 without connecting my phone to the internet?
The answer is yes and no. Yes, because a new beta version of WhatsApp does not require your phone to be connected to the internet. No, because the beta version of WhatsApp is not currently available to everyone. Users using the stable version of WhatsApp need to keep the phone connected to the internet to receive and send messages on WhatsApp Desktop on computer.
Our useful keyboard shortcuts for WhatsApp Desktop guide might also interest you.