iPhone users can now set WhatsApp as their default call and messaging application, after a new update. The feature allows users to set WhatsApp as the default choice for calls and texts over Apple’s native Messages and Phone/FaceTime apps. The feature came with the iOS 18.2 update, which originally would only be in the European Union but is now accessible worldwide.
To make WhatsApp the default messaging and calling app, users need to access their iPhone settings. Users need to select “Apps” and then “Default Apps,” where they have the choice of opting for WhatsApp from the available options for messaging and calling. As soon as it is configured, WhatsApp will automatically open up when users click on a number in a web page or select the message icon from their contacts.
The ability to set WhatsApp as a default app is just one of a number of steps by Apple to give users greater choice in choosing their go-to apps. The step is a sign of a shift towards increased customisation and user control on the iPhone, allowing users to tailor their device experience even further to their own preferences.
WhatsApp as a default choice is significant in that it represents a massive broadening of what the app can do on iOS. WhatsApp has already been incorporating features, including adding a native dialer for iOS users. Users are able to make calls from within the app by entering a phone number, similar to how the iPhone native dialer functions. The feature is meant to make it easier to call contacts without the need to save their numbers in advance.
The addition of WhatsApp as a default app option is in line with the overall strategy of Apple to make more customization options available to users. With iOS 18.2, users were given the ability to switch between different default apps for various services, including web browsers and email programs. This trend towards more user influence is a measure Apple is taking to respond to consumer pressure for more openness in how devices are being used.
For WhatsApp, becoming a default apps option is a significant milestone. It brings the app closer to being a feature-rich competitor to Apple’s native messaging and calling features. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption messaging and calling feature, as well as its popularity worldwide, makes it an attractive choice for most users who prefer its features to Apple’s native apps.
The upgrade also highlights ongoing competition between messaging platforms. With users still looking for more customized experiences on their phones, apps like WhatsApp benefit from these trends. Providing additional customization options and incorporating more into the iPhone ecosystem, WhatsApp is likely to pick up even more users who enjoy its features and privacy-focused perspective.
In general, the ability to utilize WhatsApp as the default messaging and calling app on iPhones represents a significant increase in user preference and customization ability for iOS consumers. It supports Apple’s focus on providing people more flexibility in the sense of how they choose to use their devices, whereas it also indicates WhatsApp’s growing role as an integrated communication platform.
