Highlights
- With iOS 18.2, Apple now allows iPhone users to set WhatsApp as the default app for calls and messages.
- This feature is now available worldwide, addressing Apple’s anti-competitive concerns.
- Users can enable WhatsApp as their default by updating to iOS 18.2 and WhatsApp v25.8.74.
- It provides seamless communication across iOS and Android.
With the latest iOS 18.2 update, Apple has finally allowed iPhone users to set third-party apps as their default for calls and messages. Now, WhatsApp has rolled out support for this feature, meaning you can make WhatsApp your go-to app for calls and texts on your iPhone.
Set WhatsApp as Your Default Calling & Messaging App
Caption – iPhone users can now set WhatsApp as their default app for messages and calls. (Image credit – @WABetaInfo on X)
As first spotted by trusted WhatsApp Beta source WABetaInfo, the newest WhatsApp update for iOS now supports default app selection. This means that when you tap a phone number, your iPhone will automatically use WhatsApp instead of the built-in Phone app to make the call.
While this feature was introduced mainly to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple has made it available to all users worldwide.
Besides calls and messages, iOS now lets you choose default apps for email, call filtering, web browsing, translation, passwords, payments (in some regions), keyboards, and even maps (only in the EU).
The WhatsApp update is rolling out to all iPhone users, not just beta testers.
How Make WhatsApp Your Default Messaging & Calling App on iPhone?
You’ll need an iPhone running iOS 18.2 and WhatsApp v25.8.74. If you meet these requirements, follow these steps –
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Apps.
- Select Default Apps.
- Tap on Messaging and choose WhatsApp as your default messaging app.
- Tap on Calling and set WhatsApp as your default calling app.
Once set, WhatsApp will handle all default calls and messages.
If you tap on a phone number in Safari, Messages, Mail, Notes, or other apps, your iPhone will open WhatsApp instead of the built-in Phone, Messages, or FaceTime apps.
What Makes This Change Significant?
Apple has always been strict about default app selection typically favouring its own services. However, due to increasing regulatory pressure especially from the EU’s DMA, Apple has had to make these changes to avoid being labeled anti-competitive.
This update also has big implications for markets like the USA, where the divide between iMessage’s blue bubbles and WhatsApp’s green bubbles has been a long-standing issue.
While it’s unclear how this will impact iMessage’s dominance, iPhone users now have more control over their messaging experience, making communication seamless across iOS and Android.
FAQs
Q1. How can iPhone users set WhatsApp as their default app for calls and messages?
Answer. Users need an iPhone running iOS 18.2 and WhatsApp v25.8.74. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps, then select WhatsApp for Messaging and Calling.
Q2. Why has Apple allowed WhatsApp to be set as the default calling and messaging app?
Answer. Apple introduced this change to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), addressing concerns about anti-competitive practices. The feature is now available globally.
Q3. What implications does this update have for users?
Answer. It enhances messaging control, enabling seamless communication across iOS and Android. It may also impact iMessage’s dominance in markets like the USA.
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