WhatsApp revamps Windows app: new features, but up to ten times more memory consumption

The latest version of WhatsApp for Windows looks more modern and works noticeably faster,
but one point immediately stands out: the app uses up to
ten times more RAM memory than the previous version.

Overview Article

• What's new in the revamped WhatsApp Windows app?
• Why does the brand new WhatsApp app use so much more memory?
• For whom is higher memory consumption a problem?
• How can you reduce memory consumption?
• Is increased RAM usage permanent?
• SEO titles and variations
• Conclusion: strong update with a weakness

What's new in the revamped WhatsApp Windows app?

The update is not a simple renewal of icons. The WhatsApp desktop app for Windows
has been largely rebuilt. Remarkably, the interface is now much more in keeping with Windows 11.
The controls feel more fluid, and media such as photos and videos load faster.
Users who open a lot of group conversations notice a marked improvement.

Synchronization between phone and PC is also more efficient. Especially with large chat histories
you notice that messages come in faster and get "stuck" less often. The whole feels
more modern, as if WhatsApp is finally really keeping up with other major Windows apps.

Why does the brand new WhatsApp app use so much more memory?

Since the update, memory consumption rises remarkably. Where the old version averaged
used about 200-300 MB of RAM, some users are now seeing peaks of up to
2 to 3 GB. That's a huge jump. Why is that?

Part of the explanation lies in the technology under the hood. WhatsApp makes greater use of
heavier components similar to Chromium. That makes for a smoother interface,
but now demands more memory. Loading media files and large chats also plays into this.

Furthermore, the app remains active in the background even when you minimize it. This keeps
processes running, which again increases RAM consumption.

For whom is higher memory consumption a problem?

For modern systems with 8 GB of RAM or more, it's usually not dramatic. But on older
laptops or mini-PCs with only 4 GB of memory, WhatsApp can cause noticeable slowdowns.

Especially those who use multiple apps simultaneously - such as Teams, Chrome or heavy media editors - notice
that the PC hits its limit faster. A light app suddenly becomes a conspicuous memory eater.

How can you reduce memory consumption?

There are a number of practical solutions that reduce RAM usage:

• Close WhatsApp completely instead of minimizing it.
• Turn off automatic media downloads via Settings > Storage.
• Use WhatsApp Web instead of the desktop app; that often consumes less RAM.
• Clean up temporary files with Windows Disk Cleanup or an external tool.

These measures do not solve the problem completely, but often reduce consumption significantly.

Is increased RAM usage permanent?

WhatsApp has not yet issued an genuine statement, but it seems likely that the
memory usage will be optimized in upcoming updates. Major desktop innovations are
traditionally accompanied by teething problems, and this seems a typical example of that.

Meta will presumably adjust as soon as enough users report it.

Conclusion: strong update with a weakness

The revamped WhatsApp Windows app feels more modern, faster and professional. But the downside
is obvious: significantly higher memory consumption. For recent laptops, this is
little problematic, but older devices can get tough. Until an optimized
update appears, it remains mainly a matter of fine-tuning settings and monitoring carefully.