QQ 9.9.33.52230 for Windows

QQ 9.9.33.52230 is the Windows app of QQ, an instant messaging service from the Chinese company Tencent that has existed since February 11, 1999. You can download QQ for Windows free of charge from the official website im.qq.com or the Microsoft Store and chat with contacts who use QQ.

Who it is for

QQ is one of the long-running internet services in China and combines a messenger with a social network and online community. Outside China, most people need it for a specific reason: they study or work with Chinese partners, classmates or colleagues who prefer QQ, they join Chinese gaming communities that organise themselves in QQ groups, or they keep in touch with friends and family who have used the same QQ number for years. For them, the desktop app is a comfortable way to chat on a big screen, send files from the PC and follow busy group conversations. Keep in mind that the interface is in Chinese, so users who do not read the language will rely on screen translation or help from a Chinese-speaking friend for the first steps. If none of your contacts use QQ, another messenger will be simpler.

Key facts

How to install it

1. Get QQ from the Microsoft Store listing or the official site im.qq.com.
2. Run the installer and choose the folder; untick options you do not need.
3. Sign in with your QQ account or register a new one.
4. Confirm the login on your phone if QQ asks for it.

Security and privacy

Install QQ only from im.qq.com or the Microsoft Store, never from mirror sites. Protect the account with a strong password and phone verification, and be careful with files and links in large groups, which are a frequent source of scams. As with any messenger, think about what you share: accounts and messages are processed under the rules of the service and the country where it operates.

Using it comfortably

Mute large groups and keep notifications for direct chats. Clean received files from time to time, since busy groups fill the disk quickly. If you switch between PC and phone, the mobile app for Android is available on Google Play.

If you do not read Chinese

Learn the position of the main buttons with a friend's help, keep a translation app open for menus, and save screenshots of important settings so you can find them again later.

Pros and cons

• Pro: needed to reach many Chinese contacts and groups.
• Pro: long-established service.
• Pro: free.
• Con: Chinese-only interface.
• Con: large installation.

Alternatives

Other messengers for Windows in our listings: WeChat, Telegram Desktop, WhatsApp Desktop, LINE and KakaoTalk.