WhatsApp desktop app updated with RAM-guzzling web wrapper? Here’s what to do

WhatsApp’s controversial Windows update is now rolling out to more users, and the complaints are piling up fast.

We first reported on the high RAM usage issues plaguing the desktop app last month. Then came reports of forced logouts tied to the new web wrapper update. Now it seems the rollout is expanding significantly.

The update moves WhatsApp for Windows from a native application to a webview-based wrapper. That’s version 2587 for those keeping track. And while Meta hasn’t officially announced the architectural change, users are definitely feeling it.

Reddit’s r/whatsapp community has been flooded with frustrated posts over the past day or so.

“What the hell is going on with the desktop app?” one user wrote. Another titled their post simply: “WTF is this new update.” A third called it “the worst version.” Not exactly glowing reviews.

User Old_Entertainer3293 mentioned terrible UX/UI changes, altered fonts and icons, and a frustrating “half a second buffer time” when switching between chats. Others reported even worse delays.

“It takes me 3 whole fuc***g seconds to switch to a different chat,” user OntarioBanderas complained. “Isn’t this company worth billions of dollars?”

The complaints keep coming. Users are reporting constant logouts, sluggish performance, and excessive RAM consumption. Posts titled “High RAM usage,” “What the actual F?!,” and “The new desktop Windows 11 update ruined everything“ tell the story clearly. One user simply uninstalled the app entirely and went back to their phone. Similar frustrations are echoing across X, like this post from a user who even shared a video:

So what can you actually do about it?

One popular workaround shared by Reddit user wyxchari involves rolling back to version 2546, the last native build without webview. You can grab it from uptodown’s archive. The catch? Older versions eventually expire, so this is a temporary fix. The hope is that Meta addresses the performance problems within a month or two.

It’s frustrating that a messaging app from one of the world’s largest tech companies is struggling with basic responsiveness. We’re hoping Meta pushes out a proper fix before more users abandon the desktop experience altogether.