WhatsApp is Coming to the Apple Watch
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WhatsApp users will soon be able to engage in chats from their wrist. Earlier today, the Meta subsidiary released a TestFlight build of WhatsApp for iPhone that now includes a watchOS component.
WABetaInfo, which tracks developments in WhatsApp betas, first spotted the new Apple Watch app included in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.32.190.71. That’s available via TestFlight for those already in the program, although WhatsApp isn’t accepting any new testers right now.
More significantly, this suggests that WhatsApp could be coming to the Apple Watch in the next public release, assuming the company doesn’t decide to pull back on it for some reason or extend the beta testing cycle. Ironically, WhatsApp’s sibling, Messenger, was one of the first messaging apps to embrace the Apple Watch back in 2015 — although Meta quietly retired it two years ago.
Since WhatsApp has been owned by Meta (originally Facebook) since 2014, it’s easy to feel like it’s lagging behind the curve here, but it’s also not the social messaging app’s first foray into smartwatch apps. WhatsApp added a Wear OS app for Android smartwatches in 2023, which makes it puzzling that it’s taken this long to reach Apple’s much more popular wearable.
While it’s always been possible to interact with WhatsApp messages on some level from the Apple Watch, these have been limited to responding to notifications sent from the iPhone app. That let you see messages and dash off quick replies, but it wasn’t possible to open or start a full conversation.
A native watchOS app will change that, bringing the wearable chat experience to a similar level as other apps like Apple’s Messages. WABetaInfo notes that the connection will be automatic, with no need to log in separately, like you do on the iPad or Mac. That’s because it’s still a companion for the iPhone app rather than a fully independent one — at least for now.
This means that even if you own a cellular Apple Watch, you’ll still need to have your iPhone close at hand for WhatsApp to work on your wrist. Still, as long as it’s within range, you’ll be able to scroll through your chats, tap out or dictate new messages, and reply to existing threads.
The other upside is that a native watchOS app also means improved notifications, since these can be generated directly on the Apple Watch, rather than simply being echoed from the iPhone. You’ll be able to interact with incoming messages, view media, and respond without needing to unlock your iPhone. Here’s how WABetaInfo sums up what users can expect.
With a dedicated app, WhatsApp finally lets users view the latest messages and media directly in their chat list. Pinned chats remain at the top in the correct order, and disappearing chats are clearly marked. Users can compose a new message at any time, without having to wait for a notification. They can also send voice messages, use emojis, and dictate messages using voice input. In addition, it’s possible to send default messages from below the chat bar and react to specific messages using emojis with a tap and hold action.
WABetaInfo
WhatsApp for Apple Watch requires at least watchOS 10, which is not a particularly high bar, as it only excludes the 2017 Apple Watch Series 3 and older models.
This makes WhatsApp the last of the major cross-platform messaging apps to land on the Apple Watch — even if some have already left — finally closing a gap that’s long frustrated users.
Passkeys Come to iCloud Backups
Last year, WhatsApp finally added support for passkeys to the iPhone app, several months after it was introduced in the Android version. However, this feature has one glaring omission: it only applies to logging into the app. If you were backing up your chats to iCloud, you still needed to use a 64-digit encryption key or password to encrypt and restore your backup to a new device.
If you were bewildered by the lack of Passkey support for this (as I was earlier this week when setting up a new iPhone), the good news is that WhatsApp has officially begun rolling out passkeys for securing iCloud backups.
The company announced this on its blog yesterday:
Passkeys will allow you to use your fingerprint, face, or screen lock code to encrypt your chat backups instead of having to memorize a password or a cumbersome 64-digit encryption key. Now, with just a tap or a glance, the same security that protects your personal chats and calls on WhatsApp is applied to your chat backups so they are always safe, accessible and private.
Unfortunately, this is one of those things that not everyone will get at the same time. WhatsApp says it’s being “rolled out gradually over the coming weeks and months.” That suggests it will be more of a back-end change than an app update, so keep your eyes peeled. When it does show up, you’ll be able to find it in WhatsApp by going to Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end Encrypted backup.
Between a long-awaited Apple Watch app and an overdue security upgrade, WhatsApp’s pace may finally be catching up with the rest of Meta’s ecosystem — and perhaps even outpacing some of it.
