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Introduction
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app. Originally available for smartphone, and accessible through the web, it now offers a WhatsApp desktop app Available from the Microsoft Store. The help page relates to the desktop app.
Reading time: 2 minutes approx.
Downloading and setting up WhatsApp
You require a WhatsApp Account to use WhatsApp for Windows. If you do not have a WhatsApp Account, you must first download and activate WhatsApp on your smartphone. You cannot use WhatsApp for Windows without completing this step.
After creating a WhatsApp Account, you can download and install WhatsApp from the Microsoft Store by doing the following:
- Open the Microsoft Store.
- Press CONTROL + E to place focus in the search box.
- Type "WhatsApp" and press ENTER.
- TAB to the results list, locate 'WhatsApp', and press ENTER. Note that the results are presented in a grid view, meaning you may need to use the LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW to locate the App.
- When you press ENTER, the 'WhatsApp' page opens and the focus is on the "Get" button. Press ENTER to activate this button and commence the download and install process.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
After installation, to setup WhatsApp on your computer:
- Open WhatsApp on your smartphone.
- Tap 'Menu' on Android, or 'Settings' on iPhone.
- Tap 'Linked devices' and then 'Link a device'.
- Point your smartphone at your screen to capture the QR code. Note, don't forget to turn off magnification to ensure the code is fully visible on the screen.
Tip: If you have difficulty seeing the QR code, hold your smartphone close to the screen, and then slowly move it away until it captures the QR code.
Once you successfully capture the QR code, the WhatsApp screen changes to show the main interface.
Navigating the WhatsApp interface
The WhatsApp interface has a clean and simple layout that you can navigate using the ARROW KEYS, the TAB key, and SHIFT + TAB key. WhatsApp also includes useful keyboard commands, which are listed at the end of this page.
The WhatsApp layout shows your list of chats on the left side of the screen. The main area of the screen displays a message saying you can send and receive messages without keeping your phone online, and you can use WhatsApp on up to 4 linked devices and 1 phone at the same time.
The bottom of the screen states that the messages are end-to-end encrypted.
On opening a Chat window, the focus is in the compose box, which is situated at the bottom of the screen. The left side of the screen shows your list of Charts. You can quickly switch between Chats by pressing CONTROL + TAB and CONTRL + SHIFT + TAB.
In the Chat window, you can continue to use the ARROW KEYS, the TAB key, and SHIFT + TAB key to navigate the objects, for example, you can press SHIFT + TAB twice to move focus from the compose box to the Messages list, and use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW to review the chat history.
As you navigate, you will discover buttons to Add emoji, Add attachment, Search chat, start an Audio call, start a Video call, and find a Conversation information button.
You can also find additional options through the context menu, for example, if you open the context menu (SHIFT + F10) when the focus is on a Chat group, you will find options to Pin, Archive, Clear and Exit group. Similarly, if you are in the message list, and you open the context menu, you will find options such as Reply, Copy, Forward, Reply privately, Delete and Star.
Using the File Explorer context menu
You can convert and open a PDF file directly into the SuperNova and Dolphin ScreenReader Doc Reader from File Explorer. This provides a quick and easy way to read the content of a PDF document without having to use alternative methods.
To do this:
- Open File Explorer and locate the PDF file.
- Open the context menu (SHIFT + F10).
- From the "Open With" submenu, select "Dolphin SuperNova Doc Reader".
If you want to transfer your converted file from Doc Reader to another app, then this can be done by selecting the "Document" button in the Doc Reader toolbar, and then selecting "Export As". You can export the document to Word, Text, PDF, or your Google Drive.
Tip: You can access the Doc Reader toolbar buttons by pressing TAB. Repeated presses of TAB will move you along the toolbar options and finally return you to the document window. You can also use SHIFT + TAB to navigate back across the toolbar buttons.
