WhatsApp just earned a prime spot on your iPhone: as of its latest update (version 25.8.74), the app can now be set as your default for both calling and texting, courtesy of iOS 18.2’s expanded app flexibility.
This move follows Apple’s initial EU-exclusive announcement allowing users to swap default phone and messaging apps, later extending the privilege to all iPhone users with the iOS 18.2 release.
To make WhatsApp your go-to for calls and texts, navigate to Settings > Apps > Default Apps. There, select Messaging and Calling to reveal a list of eligible alternatives, which should now include WhatsApp if you’ve updated to the latest version.
Once you’ve made the switch, your iPhone will automatically direct you to WhatsApp when tapping a phone number on a webpage or selecting the message button from your contacts list, streamlining your communication workflow.
By allowing WhatsApp to become a default calling and texting app on iPhones, Apple is acknowledging the messaging platform’s ubiquity and, in effect, admitting that for many users, the traditional Phone and Messages apps are no longer the primary hubs for communication – underscoring the evolving nature of how we interact with our contacts.
