In November last year, news broke that WhatsApp was developing a new desktop app that could be purchased through the Microsoft Store. Reports at the time said the app was based on UWP, not Electron, and also supported handwriting and multiple devices. It now appears that the development team is moving to WinUI 2.6 and above to take advantage of Fluent design elements in Windows 11.
The discovery was made by Windows leaker FireCube (@FireCubeStudios on Twitter), who noticed discrepancies between the old and new versions of the WhatsApp beta app. You’ll notice circular radio buttons, drop-down menus, and more elements that fit the Windows 11 design language. That said, it’s definitely a work in progress, and there are still some UI elements that don’t align with Windows 11, but that’s the nature of the beta, so it’s understandable.
