What Is GB WhatsApp? A Plain-English Explainer

The app is a modified client. It still connects to the normal WhatsApp network and signs in with your phone number, but the program on your phone has been changed by someone other than WhatsApp. Those changes are what add new menus, themes and toggles.

Because the developers are independent, there is no single company behind it and no official support channel. Updates arrive as APK files from various sources, and each build can differ in what it includes. That is why the versions archive lists release details such as file size and Android requirement, so you can compare what you have been offered with what is documented.

Most interest comes from a handful of extras that the official app does not offer. Which of them are present depends on the build and the release, so none should be taken for granted.

• Privacy toggles, such as hiding read receipts or online status. See the features overview for the full list that builds have offered.
• Appearance changes, including themes, fonts and chat bubble styles.
• Messaging tools, like auto-replies, scheduled messages and broadcast options.
• Media handling, such as sharing larger files or sending more images at once.
• A second account on the same phone, which some people use to separate work and personal numbers.

If you want a closer look at any of these, GB WhatsApp features explained walks through them one by one and notes where behaviour varies.

Source and updates

Official WhatsApp is distributed through Google Play and updated automatically. A modified client is downloaded as a file from the web and updated by hand, which puts the responsibility for judging the source on you.

Security and privacy assumptions

WhatsApp publishes information about how its own app protects messages. A modified build is a different piece of software maintained by third parties, so you cannot assume the same security, privacy or end-to-end encryption guarantees apply. For a side-by-side look, read GB WhatsApp vs WhatsApp.

Account standing

Using the official app carries no such terms issue. Using an unofficial one can lead to a warning, a temporary restriction or a permanent ban of the number you registered.

Consider a person who only wants to stop showing blue ticks. The official app already has a setting to turn read receipts off, so installing a modified client for that single purpose adds risk without much gain. Compare that with someone who wants a second number on one phone: the official app now supports multiple accounts on some devices, so it is worth checking that first as well.

1. Write down the one or two things you actually want.
2. Check whether the official app or your phone's own settings can already do them.
3. If not, decide whether you can afford to lose the number you would register, since a restriction would affect it.
4. If you still go ahead, follow the installation guide carefully and take a backup first.

If you decide to continue, check that your phone meets the Android requirements before downloading anything. Read the disclaimer for how this site relates to the app, and the FAQ for quick answers to common questions.