Within the iOS 18.2 replace, Apple gave customers a devoted Default Apps tab, lastly letting us choose our personal default apps for messages and calls. Sadly, not many apps have been up to date to benefit from this but. I beforehand talked about DefaultSMS, which takes over the default messaging app and redirects it to WhatsApp, Sign, or Telegram, however no less than a type of now has an official choice that you need to use as a substitute.
Sure, WhatsApp has lastly been up to date the to assist the Default Apps function. This implies now you can make WhatsApp the default Calling and Messaging app on iPhone. However does this imply you may cease utilizing the Telephone app and Messaging app altogether? Not precisely.
Consider it extra like a shortcut. When relevant, you need to use this function to rapidly name somebody utilizing WhatsApp Audio, or open up a textual content dialog in WhatsApp, straight from the Telephone app or anyplace you see a cellphone quantity.
Find out how to make WhatsApp the default app for calls and messages
First, let’s discuss the right way to make this occur. In your iPhone operating the most recent iOS 18 construct, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.

Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
Scroll to the Messaging and Calling sections. Right here, select WhatsApp because the default.
How the iPhone’s default calling and messaging app options work
The default function doesn’t suggest which you could merely substitute the Telephone app and Messages app. Whenever you get an incoming SMS or Apple iMessage, it can nonetheless present up within the Messages app. And while you get a cellphone name, you will nonetheless see it within the Telephone app.
What do you assume to this point?

Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
On this context, “default app” signifies that when you faucet the Message button or the Name button for a contact in your Telephone app or Contacts app, it can now open a name or message with them through WhatsApp app straight. This basically serves as a shortcut, reasonably than a full substitute for the apps that include your cellphone.
After you alter your default calling or messaging app, while you open a contact card and faucet the Name button or Message button for the primary time, you will get an overflow menu the place WhatsApp would be the first and default choice. You’ll be able to choose another choice to vary your default in case you like. From then on, tapping the Name button will straight name the contact utilizing WhatsApp Audio (or no matter you modified your default to), until you alter your default once more in your iPhone settings.
From there, you are all set… largely. In case your contact would not have WhatsApp, WhatsApp will merely inform that they don’t seem to be on WhatsApp, at which level you will need to manually open the Telephone or Messages app to succeed in out as a substitute.