WhatsApp Can Now Be Your Default Call and Messaging App on iPhone

WhatsApp can now be selected as the default calling and messaging app on iPhone, if users so wish (via WABetaInfo).

whatsapp default app iphone
A change in the latest version of WhatsApp available on the App Store (v25.8.74) causes the Meta-owned encrypted chat platform to now show up in the Messaging and Calling options list in iOS Settings ➝ Apps ➝ Default Apps.

Apple introduced a way for users to select their preferred default apps for iPhone in iOS 18.2. Apple initially said that the feature would be coming to the European Union, but it turned out to be available worldwide.

If you select WhatsApp for Messaging and/or Calling, your iPhone will automatically open the app when called upon instead of Apple's built-in options, Messages and Phone/FaceTime.

For example, in Apple's Contacts app, if you tap the buttons to message or call someone from their contacts card, iOS will immediately open WhatsApp.

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Top Rated Comments

Expos of 1969 Avatar
5 weeks ago
Choice is wonderful.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sunapple Avatar
5 weeks ago
Everyone in The Netherlands uses WhatsApp. There’s no way around it. Same for other apps in other countries. So it’s a very useful feature.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AeroEd Avatar
5 weeks ago
Thanks. Now my family/friends are using WhatsApp due to Apple not playing nice with Android via iMessage ?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Expos of 1969 Avatar
5 weeks ago

Wait, you can make actual phone calls from WhatsApp?
Hello .... where have you been?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sdz Avatar
5 weeks ago
thank you EU commission.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robvalentine Avatar
5 weeks ago

Does anyone have any notion about the risk factors of this (as in security issues)?
Probably the same as using imessage/iOS, or discussing military attacks on signal
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)