How WeChat Works;The Chinese Messaging App

How does WeChat work ? Here is a complete guide to the Chinese messaging app, a valid alternative to WhatsApp and Telegram for years.

Messaging services, such as WhatsApp and Telegram , help us communicate with extreme ease every day. Although in Italy these two platforms are objectively the most used, in other countries users rely on different services, for example Snapchat in the USA.

Among the most interesting services for features and interactions is WeChat , but what is it and how do you use it? Today we will take a closer look at this service, but we recommend reading our article on Apps similar to WhatsApp if you want to try alternative solutions.

Index

 

What is WeChat and how to use it

We are sure that you use applications like WhatsApp and Telegram on a daily basis, but although these two platforms are the most popular among users, they represent only a part of the services of this type. A very similar alternative is WeChat , a messaging service that you can use on both mobile devices and PCs via a client and a web interface accessible from the browser.

This service is completely free and allows you to chat with your friends in private or group chats , exchanging photos, files and much more. But in addition to the functions already present in other similar services, WeChat also integrates an internal social network and above all WeChat Pay , a useful function for making payments through the application.

You’re probably wondering how WeChat works, right? Using this Chinese instant messaging app is really very simple, all you have to do is download the official application on your smartphone or access the dedicated web page from the browser of your PC, tablet or compatible electronic device. With a particularly quick registration you can then send messages, photos, videos and everything you want to your contacts or groups from the App.

The exponential growth of this service has occurred mainly in China , where WhatsApp was blocked.

WhatsApp is blocked in China because only applications that can be intercepted by the government are allowed .

As you may know, WhatsApp has an encrypted message sending system ( End-to-end encryption ) that allows users to have maximum privacy when using the service. The impossibility of using WhatsApp in China has given a considerable boost to WeChat , in fact, it currently has more than 846 million active users .

How to Download WeChat

If you want to try WeChat and don’t like accessing via web browser/WeChat Web, you still have the option to download the WeChat app for iOS , Android , and Microsoft .

• iOS : unlock the screen of your iPhone or iPad and once the App Store is launched , by tapping on the wheel in the drawer, you just need to type WeChat. By tapping on Get you will then have to enter the Apple ID and wait a few seconds for WeChat to download.
• Android : the procedure is very similar to the iPhone version, but we have to rely on the Google Play Store . Once you have unlocked the screen of the mobile device, access the virtual Google store and type WeChat in the search bar . Tap on Install and wait a few seconds.
• Microsoft : if you like to use the Microsoft digital Store from your PC, you can also start downloading WeChat from there using the Windows WeChat version. Click on Start at the bottom leftand type Microsoft Store . Once the virtual store opens, enter your login details. In the search bar, at the top center, write WeChat and click on Install in the little window where you see the Free banner.

How to change language on WeChat

Now that you have completed the registration you can access various functions, including changing the language. To enter a language other than the default one, open the Me section, which you can find in the lower right corner in the shape of two clouds, and tap on Settings . From here, press on General and select the Language item . Choose the language you prefer and tap on Done to confirm.

How to see who’s online

Like most instant messaging services, WeChat also allows you to view the status of your contacts. To see who is online you must first synchronize your address book with the software by accepting access to the data as soon as you start the App.

To view the last access you need to access the Contacts section , where you can see next to the name the icon that indicates whether the user is online or offline. If the icon is green then your contact is online, while if it is gray then they are offline. This feature is valid whether you are using WeChat App or the web browser version.

How to chat on WeChat

In order to send or receive messages, photos and videos with WeChat you need to add contacts to the address book. You can either send a friend request to someone you know or receive one. If an acquaintance has sent you a friend request, you will receive a notification from WeChat, selecting it will open the Contacts section and you can add them by choosing the New friends item .

If you want to invite a friend, then tap on the Contacts section and immediately after New friends . Write the name of your contact or their phone number and by selecting it you can send the friend request. To speed up, however, we recommend that you tap on Add contacts , at the top right, and select the Friend radar option .

How WeChat Works on PC

We have mentioned several times that there is also a WeChat PC version. You can access it both with the Microsoft Store and directly download the dedicated application on Windows, or from a web browser, but in this case you will have to start a procedure very similar to Telegram Web ; in fact, you will still need the smartphone application.

Launch WeChat from your phone and tap on Chat , at the bottom left. Select the (+) item , at the top right, and tap on Scan . By confirming the scan, tapping on Login , you can then view the WeChat screen on your PC. Not all the functions of the mobile version are present, but the main ones are. This solution is very useful if you want to download files or transfer them from PC to phone.

How to activate WeChat Pay as a payment method

With WeChat Pay , a digital Wallet developed by the Chinese App, you can also make payments with a commission of 0.11 euros +3% in most countries . To activate this function, all you have to do is add a credit card by tapping on the Me , Wallet and Bank card section . Verify the billing address with the instructions on the screen and you’re done.

How Safe Is WeChat?

As you can imagine, the Chinese messaging app is a great app for messaging, but it is certainly not the ideal solution for those who want maximum privacy. WhatsApp and Telegram , thanks to end-to-end encryption , are much more secure, but you can get around this problem by using WeChat online and activating a VPN (Virtual Private Network)