WhatsApp Rolls Out Official Apple Watch App

WhatsApp has released its official app for Apple Watch, introducing a native experience that allows users to read, send, and manage conversations directly from their wrist. While Apple Watch owners have long received WhatsApp notifications and could use third-party tools for limited interactions, the new app expands functionality to align more closely with the mobile version.

The app is compatible with Apple Watch Series 4 and newer models running watchOS 10 or later. With the update, users can see full message threads, respond with emojis, send voice messages, and view clearer media, including images and stickers. The interface has also been optimized to show more chat history at once, helping conversations feel less truncated compared to earlier notification-only support.

Key features include call alerts, message composition, and quick reactions, along with support for sending audio responses directly from the watch. WhatsApp also notes that end-to-end encryption remains intact for messages and calls passed through the wearable, maintaining the platform’s existing privacy framework. Given that smartwatches are becoming increasingly more complex and edging closer to the power and flexibility of a mobile phone, it may not be long before other social media apps are following suit and adapting themselves to these kinds of wearables.

The move highlights WhatsApp’s broader effort to improve accessibility across devices, following earlier expansions that added multi-device sync and standalone desktop functionality. The Apple Watch integration aligns with increasing use of wearables for short, frequent interactions. According to Apple, its smartwatch user base surpassed 100 million globally in recent years, creating a sizable audience for wrist-based communication and social apps.