WhatsApp users on iPhones can now set the app as their default choice for messaging and calls, following the latest update to version 25.8.74.
The change, first noted by WABetaInfo, allows the Meta-owned messaging service to appear in the default app selection menu within iOS settings, reported MacRumors.
Reportedly, Apple had introduced the ability to choose preferred default apps with the rollout of iOS 18.2. Initially, the feature was expected to be restricted to users in the European Union, but it has since been made available globally. This development marks a significant shift in Apple’s traditionally closed ecosystem, offering users greater flexibility in how they communicate.
Once WhatsApp is set as the default for Messaging and/or Calling, the iPhone will automatically launch the app when users initiate a call or send a message, bypassing Apple’s built-in Messages and Phone/FaceTime apps. For instance, tapping the message or call button within a contact’s card in the iPhone’s Contacts app will now direct users straight to WhatsApp instead of the default Apple applications.
This move is expected to be welcomed by WhatsApp’s vast global user base, many of whom rely on the app as their primary means of communication. By providing users with more control over their preferred apps, Apple appears to be taking a more open approach, a shift likely influenced by increasing regulatory pressure around digital competition and consumer choice.
The update is now available for all iPhone users via the App Store, allowing them to seamlessly integrate WhatsApp into their daily communication routines.
Meanwhile, in other news, WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new feature for its iOS app that will allow users to link their Instagram profiles to their WhatsApp accounts. The feature, which was discovered by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, is currently in beta testing and is said to be available to a limited number of testers.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature was spotted in WhatsApp Beta for iOS version 25.7.10.70. Once implemented, users will have the option to display their Instagram profile links on their WhatsApp profiles.
Moreover, the link is expected to appear beneath the user’s profile picture and name, enhancing visibility for those who wish to connect their accounts across Meta-owned platforms.
