Users have been able to message their friends and family from their computers for some time now, thanks to WhatsApp Web, but the messaging service have just launched desktop applications for their customers.

What's the difference? Well WhatsApp Web resides within a browser while the new app is native to your machine. This means users don't have to have an Internet browser running to use the service. 

Click here to download the app. You'll then be met with the following screen. 

Open the WhatsApp app on your device and click on "WhatsApp Web". Simply scan the QR code on the web page and you're set! The phone needs to be powered on to work and mirrors the messages sent and received from the account.