WhatsApp customers can now set the app as their default for calling and messaging on iPhones, marking a big shift in Apple’s strategy to third-party app integration. The change was first reported by WABetaInfo on X (previously Twitter) and was noticed in WhatsApp model 25.8.74 on the App Retailer. This replace aligns with the rising development of customers counting on internet-based communication apps slightly than conventional cellphone calls and SMS.
With this replace, WhatsApp now seems as an choice in iOS Settings → Apps → Default Apps, the place customers can choose it as their Messaging and Calling default. Apple launched the power to set third-party apps as defaults in iOS 18.2, initially asserting that the characteristic could be restricted to the European Union on account of regulatory necessities. Nonetheless, the performance has since been made obtainable worldwide, giving iPhone customers higher management over their most well-liked communication platforms.
📝 WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.8.10.74: what’s new?
WhatsApp is rolling out a characteristic to set it because the default app for messages and calls, and it is obtainable to some beta testers!https://t.co/7CHWS8a9wu pic.twitter.com/zBmo2pYjSc
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) March 27, 2025
By choosing WhatsApp because the default, iPhones will robotically route calls and messages via the app as a substitute of Apple’s built-in Messages, Cellphone, or FaceTime. For instance, when a consumer faucets the message or name buttons inside a contact’s profile within the Contacts app, iOS will immediately launch WhatsApp as a substitute of Apple’s native apps. This characteristic simplifies the method for customers who primarily talk by way of WhatsApp, lowering the necessity to manually change between apps.
The transfer displays a broader shift in the way in which individuals talk, as encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp proceed to exchange conventional cellphone providers. It additionally highlights Apple’s evolving stance on third-party app integration, notably in response to regulatory scrutiny and altering consumer expectations.
This replace advantages customers by offering extra flexibility and customization choices for his or her iPhone expertise. It additionally reinforces WhatsApp’s place as a dominant messaging platform globally, additional integrating it into day by day communication workflows.
