Here’s everything you need to know about how to update WhatsApp on Android to the latest version. Updating to the latest version is essential to keep your WhatsApp account safe and secure. Additionally, new features and bug fixes can make WhatsApp more enjoyable.
WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps worldwide and is available for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac Operating Systems. Features offered by WhatsApp include the ability to send encrypted text and voice messages, share photos, videos, and documents, and do audio and video calls with friends and family. However, you must update your WhatsApp regularly to enjoy seamless communication.
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Why You Need to Update Your WhatsApp
You need to update your WhatsApp regularly, just like any other software or mobile application. New versions come with new privacy features, bug fixes for security vulnerabilities, and other performance enhancements that improve the user experience. These will help your phone to run smoothly and at optimal performance.
Updating your WhatsApp application only takes a few minutes to complete. Additionally, you can enable the auto-update feature to get automatic updates to your WhatsApp application.
How to Update WhatsApp on Android Device
- Open the Google Play Store app on your device.
- Type “WhatsApp” into the search bar at the top of the screen and search.
3. Then tap on the WhatsApp Messenger. The app has a green chat bubble icon and a phone receiver icon. WhatsAPP LLC publishes the app.
4. Tap on Update to download and install the latest WhatsApp version on your Android phone or tablet.
Note that if your device is already up-to-date, you won’t see the “Update” button next to WhatsApp.This is because you are already using the installed latest version and no new updates are currently available. The button will read “Open”. If you click on open, you will launch your WhatsApp.
Related: How to Update the Google Play Store on Your Android Phone.
How to Update WhatsApp on Android Automatically
You can enable the auto-update feature on the WhatsApp app on the Google Play store. This will enable your Android phone to update WhatsApp automatically. Follow these steps:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap on your profile icon > Manage Apps & Device>select WhatsApp.
- Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner.
- Tap on the Enable Auto Update feature.
How to Update WhatsApp Without Using Google Play Store
If you somehow face challenges in updating your WhatsApp from the Google Play Store, you can update your WhatsApp by using third-party sites for APK files such as APKMirror or APKPure. This may be caused by insufficient storage on your device or the app’s incompatibility with your Android device.
How to update WhatsApp without using the Google Play Store:
- Open your browser and head to the APKMirror website.
- Search for the “WhatsApp” APK.
- Scroll through the search results and choose the latest WhatsApp version. Avoid selecting the Beta version.
- You will be asked to choose your smartphone’s process architecture on the download page. Choose ARM or x86, depending on your device specs.
Open the downloaded file. - Tap on the Download button. WhatsApp APK files will be downloaded directly to an Android device. If prompted, select Download anyway to save the file.
6. Once the download is finished, tap on Update button to install the app and update the WhatsApp.
The Google Play Store is the safest source for Android apps, and in case of any challenges, you can turn to third-party sites. And as much as these websites can be safe, ensure that you do your due diligence before downloading any application.
Note: Installing mobile applications from third-party sites is not recommended as they contain malware and pose huge security risks.
How to Update WhatsApp Desktop on Your Windows Laptop
If your PC or laptop runs on the Microsoft Windows operating system, here are the steps to update WhatsApp on your laptop:
- Launch the Microsoft Store.
- Type WhatsApp on the search bar at the top of your screen. Alternatively, you can click on the “Top free apps” option and select WhatsApp, or click on “Library“ at the bottom left corner of your screen.
- Then click the “Save to device” button to download and install the latest WhatsApp version for the desktop.
Update Your WhatsApp
Updating to the latest version is essential to keep your WhatsApp account safe and secure. The latest versions offer improved security as they have bug fixes, better privacy features, and additional features that will enhance the user experience. Keep your information secure and protected.
As an Android user, you may want to update your Google Play Store and all your Android mobile apps automatically to enhance your user experience. The process is simple and we walk you through all the steps.
