Apple to allow setting WhatsApp as the default phone app on iPhones.
Apple is preparing to let iPhone users set WhatsApp as their default application for calls and messaging. According to WABetaInfo, this change will be available once users update to WhatsApp version 25.8.74. This update marks the first time that iPhone users can select WhatsApp over the native Apple apps for communication.
To change your iPhone’s default calling and messaging app to WhatsApp, you need to go into the Settings menu. From there, navigate to “Apps,” followed by “Default Apps.” You’ll find options to set your default Messaging App and Default Calling App. Once you select WhatsApp from the list, it will become your default choice.
After making this change, any time you tap phone numbers or contact messaging options, WhatsApp will open automatically. However, it’s important to note that incoming calls will still be routed through Apple’s native phone application. This feature is initially available to users of the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS and is expected to reach the public soon.
Users who predominantly communicate via WhatsApp will likely find this enhancement beneficial, though full integration is still in progress. Apple initially rolled out the ability to change default apps with the iOS 18.2 update, a decision influenced by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations in the European Union. Following this, the feature was made available globally, allowing users to modify their default apps across various functions, including browsing, messaging, and email.
The iOS 18.2 update also included new APIs that third-party applications, like WhatsApp, could implement to serve as alternatives to Apple’s native apps.
