• Check for updates in the App Store and install the latest version of WhatsApp.
  • Re-link your phone to WhatsApp on Mac.
  • Delete and reinstall WhatsApp via the App Store, and try again.

Preliminary Fixes

  • Check Network Connection : A stable internet connection is crucial for WhatsApp to function properly. To check, open a web browser and visit a website like Speedtest .
  • Restart Mac : Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve issues with applications not launching properly. To restart, save all your open files > click the Apple logo, and select Restart.
  • Update WhatsApp : Outdated software can often cause applications to malfunction. Ensuring that WhatsApp is up-to-date can resolve compatibility issues and bugs. To do so, go to Updates under App Store and update WhatsApp.

Fix 1: Completely Close WhatsApp

Does WhatsApp keep running in the background upon startup? That way, you may have trouble launching the app on the Mac.

Step 1: Press Command + Space and open Spotlight Search.

Step 2: Type Activity Monitor and open the app.

Step 3: Find WhatsApp from the list and click on it.

Type Activity Monitor - 1

Step 4: Click on the X mark at the top and completely close the app.

Close Activity Monitor and try to access WhatsApp on Mac. If this didn’t fix the issue, check out the next fix.

Step 1: Launch WhatsApp on your Mac.

Step 2: Open WhatsApp on your phone and move to Settings . Select Linked Devices .

Step 3: Tap Link a Device . Authenticate yourself with a fingerprint or Face ID.

WhatsApp not launching on Mac 7 - 2

Step 4: Scan the WhatsApp QR code on your Mac and check your latest messages syncing on the desktop.

Scan the WhatsApp QR code - 3

If you have thousands of WhatsApp messages, it may take a while to sync them on your Mac.

Fix 3: Reinstall WhatsApp

Step 1: Launch Finder on Mac. Select Applications from the sidebar.

Step 2: Right-click on WhatsApp and select Move to Bin .

select Move to Bin - 4

Step 3: Launch the App Store , find WhatsApp , and install it on your Mac.

WhatsApp’s native app is available on the Mac now. It comes with a better user interface and performance. Launch WhatsApp on Mac and link your primary phone to it via a QR code.

Fix 4: Update macOS

An outdated macOS can cause incompatibility with installed apps on your Mac.

Step 1: Click the Apple icon in the top left corner and open System Settings .

open System Settings - 5

Step 2: Scroll to General and hit Software Update .

hit Software Update - 6

Step 3: Download and install the latest macOS build on your Mac.

Fix 5: Try WhatsApp Web

Even after following all the steps above, you still face WhatsApp not launching on Mac; you need to access WhatsApp from the web.

Visit WhatsApp on the web and scan the QR code to set up WhatsApp in your preferred browser.

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