WeChat on UBports

JoeBeach

Hello,
I am traveling and potentially doing business in China, and virtually everyone here uses WeChat for communication. If you ask them to text or email, they are put out by it. Even businesses expect to communicate that way. Does anyone know if there is an app on UBports that can work with WeChat or if there is specific software for it available? Or perhaps there is a way to run the Android version of it in UBports?

advocatux

@joebeach there isn't a wechat app afaik. Has you tried if wechat web version works in your phone?

There's a project to run Android apps in UT called Anbox but it's under heavy development now. See details here https://docs.ubports.com/en/latest/userguide/dailyuse/anbox.html

JoeBeach

@advocatux I didn't realize there was a web version, I'll check to see if it works.

advocatux

@joebeach perfect, and if it works please report it here

JoeBeach

@advocatux It turns out that Web WeChat is augments the phone app, rather than replaces it. You need to have the WeChat app installed on your phone in order to log in to the Web WeChat. From the the WeChat web site:
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How do I log in to Web WeChat?
In your web browser, visit web.wechat.com. Scan the QR Code on the computer with the QR Code scanner located within your phone's WeChat app. Once you scan the code, confirm your login on your device.
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What is the difference between Web WeChat and WeChat for Windows?
Web WeChat and WeChat for Windows are both designed to provide users with a convenient chatting platform to allow quick and convenient file transfers between mobile and PC.

They differ in the following aspects:

Web WeChat can be logged in to at http://web.wechat.com; It uses browser-based login method.
WeChat for Windows must be downloaded and installed on PC before using. It uses client-based login mode.
WeChat for Windows allows users to backup and restore their chat history, while Web WeChat currently doesn't offer a backup and restore feature.
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I wonder if the "client-based login" on WeChat for Windows would allow you to log in without using the phone. But that would then require being able to run Windows software on UBports. If WINE works on UBports and WeChat for Windows works in WINE, that could be an option. I don't know if either of those are true, though. I'll check and update later.

advocatux

@joebeach oh that's bad. It seems the Wechat app is mandatory in the login process then.

Just out curiosity, have you read the QR code to see what it does? You can use Tagger (*) in UT for that.

(*) https://open-store.io/app/com.ubuntu.developer.mzanetti.tagger

arubislander

This sounds like the same setup WhatsApp has in place. Therr is a web version, butnyou need to scan a qr code with the (Android or iOS) appeared on your device to log in.

That would mean you'd need to have the WeChat appeared installed in a compatible device to bring able to work with the web version.