After nearly a decade, Apple Watch users can finally use WhatsApp without constantly reaching for their iPhones. Meta has officially launched the long-awaited WhatsApp client for Apple Watch, giving users the ability to send and receive messages directly from their wrists.
The app allows users to read full messages, view chat history, and see media such as photos and stickers on the compact display. It also supports voice message recording, maintaining WhatsApp’s hallmark end-to-end encryption for security and privacy.
To use the new feature, users will need an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer running watchOS 10 or later.
A Long Road to Launch
WhatsApp’s arrival on Apple Watch has been a long time coming. The first Apple Watch debuted in 2015, but Meta’s messaging platform—despite its massive global user base—had never supported it natively until now.
The delay mirrors Meta’s slow rollout of Apple-compatible apps in the past. The WhatsApp app for iPad, for instance, only launched in May 2025—more than a decade after Facebook acquired the service. Even then, the iPad version functioned only as a companion app rather than a fully independent platform.
Similarly, Instagram’s iPad app appeared just a few months ago, 15 years after the original iOS release. This pattern highlights Meta’s historically cautious approach toward Apple’s ecosystem.
Seamless Communication on the Wrist
With the new Apple Watch app, WhatsApp becomes more convenient for users on the go. Notifications for calls and messages now appear instantly on the watch, reducing dependence on the iPhone for simple interactions.
This move not only enhances accessibility but also strengthens WhatsApp’s integration across Apple’s ecosystem. For millions of Apple Watch owners, the update finally brings Meta’s most popular messaging service into sync with their daily wearable experience.
