iPhone now lets users set WhatsApp as their default calling and texting app
Whether it’s a strategic move or a sign of things to come, it’s obvious Apple is being forced to give users more control over their devices.
If you make calls primarily on WhatsApp, you can now tap a phone number on your iPhone, and instead of the usual Phone app, WhatsApp pops up, ready to make the call.
This is a strange update, considering how Apple has kept a tight grip on its default apps. Originally, if you wanted to send a text, it had to go through iMessage. If you wanted to make a call, the Phone app was the only way. But with iOS 18.2, they’ve unbuckled the belt, allowing third-party apps to step in, and WhatsApp is among the first to take advantage.
If you’re already using WhatsApp as your primary chat and call app, making it the default is a no-brainer.
To do this:
- Update WhatsApp to version 25.8.74 from the App Store.
- Go to Settings on your iPhone, select Apps > Default Apps, tap Messaging and choose WhatsApp, then go back, select Calling, and set it to WhatsApp as well.
Now, whenever you tap a phone number or hit the message button, your iPhone will automatically route it through WhatsApp.
Kelechi Edeh
If you set up WhatsApp as your default app for calling and texting, things will now work a little differently. Calls via WhatsApp will happen by default when you tap a number from Safari, Contacts, or anywhere else.
Texts will also be sent over WhatsApp instead of iMessage or SMS. Regular calls and SMS will still function normally through the default Phone or Messages app. If you dial a number directly from your call log, it will still use the regular Phone app unless the previous call was made through WhatsApp.
Meanwhile, this change didn’t happen out of nowhere. Apple initially announced that only users in the European Union would get the option to change default apps, thanks to new regulations. But then they made it available worldwide in iOS 18.2. Whether it’s a strategic move or a sign of things to come, it’s obvious Apple is being forced to give users more control over their devices.
So, are you making WhatsApp your default calling and messaging app? Or are you sticking with Apple’s built-in options?
Either way, it’s nice to finally have a choice.
