A decade after Apple Watch launched, WhatsApp finally launched a dedicated app for the smartwatch Tuesday — ending years of frustration for users who could only respond to notifications from their wrist. The messaging service brings full chat functionality to your wrist with support for messages, voice notes and calls, Meta said.
At long last, here’s the Whatsapp Apple Watch messaging app
The new WhatsApp for Apple Watch app transforms how users interact with the world’s most popular messaging platform, known for its end-to-end encryption, Meta said in a blog post Tuesday. With over a billion daily active users globally and more than 100 million monthly users in the United States alone, the absence of a proper Apple Watch app had been a notable gap in WhatsApp’s ecosystem. Now, after news broke Friday of testing in progress, it’s finally here.
What you can do with WhatsApp on Apple Watch
The new app brings comprehensive functionality that goes far beyond the limited notification responses previously available. Users can now read entire conversations directly on their watch, including long messages that previously required pulling out an iPhone.
Key features include the ability to write and send new messages using voice dictation or the watch’s input methods. You can also record and send voice messages and send emoji reactions. In addition, the app can displays call notifications. That lets users see who’s calling without checking their phone.
Media viewing has been enhanced as well. That will make clearer images and stickers visible on the watch’s display. Users can also access more of their chat history directly on screen when browsing conversations.
Privacy and compatibility
Mockup: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac
WhatsApp emphasized that all messages and calls remain protected with end-to-end encryption, maintaining the same privacy standards users expect from the platform.
The app works with any Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 10 or above. The watch must be paired with an iPhone.
Whatsapp for Apple Watch: Better late than never
The launch marks a significant catch-up moment for WhatsApp. It already offers a dedicated app for WearOS devices, of course. And the company acknowledged this is just the beginning, promising continued improvements based on user feedback.
For the millions of WhatsApp users limited to basic notification responses on their Apple Watches, the new app represents a major upgrade in functionality and convenience. It brings the full messaging experience to their wrists.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
