[TUTORIAL] How to hide the new WhatsApp sidebar on macOS

[u/zambooca]

That new left sidebar takes up a massive amount of your screen. Here’s how to get rid of it.

Important: This only works with the Mac App Store version of WhatsApp. If you installed WhatsApp from whatsapp.com, uninstall it and reinstall from the Mac App Store first.

Prerequisites

• Terminal needs Full Disk Access: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access → enable Terminal
• WhatsApp must be the Mac App Store version

Steps

1. Open WhatsApp and let it fully load (this creates the preferences file), then quit it completely with Cmd+Q — not just close the window.
2. Open Terminal and run:

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WAPLIST="$HOME/Library/Containers/net.whatsapp.WhatsApp/Data/Library/Preferences/net.whatsapp.WhatsApp.plist"

1. Back up the file:

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cp "$WAPLIST" "$HOME/Desktop/WAPLIST.backup"

1. Disable the sidebar:

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/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'Add :com.apple.UIKit.UITabSidebar:com.whatsapp.sidebar.tabs:preferredVisibility integer 1' "$WAPLIST"

If you get “Entry Already Exists”, use Set instead of Add:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'Set :com.apple.UIKit.UITabSidebar:com.whatsapp.sidebar.tabs:preferredVisibility 1' "$WAPLIST"

1. Open WhatsApp. The sidebar should be gone.

To re-enable the sidebar

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'Set :com.apple.UIKit.UITabSidebar:com.whatsapp.sidebar.tabs:preferredVisibility 0' "$WAPLIST"

Notes

• If a WhatsApp update brings the sidebar back, just re-run step 4.
• If you installed WhatsApp from whatsapp.com (the Electron/direct download version), this won’t work — the required plist file doesn’t exist. Switch to the Mac App Store version.

Troubleshooting

• “No such file or directory” — Make sure WhatsApp is the Mac App Store version and that you’ve opened it at least once. Also confirm Terminal has Full Disk Access.
• “Does Not Exist” — You’re using Set but the key hasn’t been created yet. Use the Add command instead.
• “Entry Already Exists” — You’re using Add but the key is already there. Use the Set command instead.
• Sidebar came back after update — Quit WhatsApp and re-run step 4. Updates can reset the plist.
• Not sure which version you have — Check the WhatsApp app in Finder. Right-click → Get Info. If the source says “Mac App Store” you’re good. If not, reinstall from the App Store.
• Changes not taking effect — Make sure you fully quit WhatsApp with Cmd+Q before running the command. Check Activity Monitor for any lingering WhatsApp processes and force quit them.

[u/SpyvsMerc]

Thanks, much better now