You might be wondering, I already get WhatsApp notifications on my Apple Watch, so why do I need a separate app? This is because while the Apple Watch mirrors notifications from WhatsApp that can be replied to; however, the working of the official app on the Apple Watch is limited.
I can only reply to the notifications of the texts I receive, and the previous chat is not available. This makes it a little difficult to carry on conversations when my phone isn’t nearby. So, if you, too, would like to access WhatsApp on your Apple Watch, keep reading!
Is WhatsApp available on Apple Watch?
Yes, WhatsApp is available on Apple Watch with limited functionality. I can receive WhatsApp notifications on my Apple Watch and even reply to them right from my wrist. What I can’t do is view a chat or images that are sent via WhatsApp.
This basic functionality of WhatsApp also requires WhatsApp version 2.12.9 or later, iOS 9.1 or later, and watchOS 2.0 or later.
Here’s how WhatsApp works on the Apple Watch:
Turn On WhatsApp Notifications
Although this is by default, in case you’re not receiving text notifications from WhatsApp on your Apple Watch,
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap Notifications.
- Scroll down to Mirror iPhone Alerts From and make sure WhatsApp is toggled on.
This will result in the text messages on WhatsApp being sent to your Apple Watch. From here, I can choose to reply to these messages right from my wrist or dismiss them for a later time.
Reply to WhatsApp Texts
Once I hit Reply on a WhatsApp text notification, a few suggested messages such as ‘Hello’, ‘What’s Up?’, ‘Ok’, or ‘On My Way!’ pop up.
Apart from these handy replies, I can also tap Reply and choose to scribble the message on the watch or use the tiny keyboard to type the message. Additionally, I can also use the built-in microphone to dictate the message as a reply.
The microphone is the easiest way to communicate using the Apple Watch because typing on a small screen is not the easiest.
What You Can’t Do with WhatsApp on the Apple Watch
Like I said before, the functionality of WhatsApp on the Apple Watch is limited. Here’s everything I can’t do via WhatsApp on the Apple Watch:
- I can’t start a new WhatsApp chat from my Apple Watch directly.
- I can’t place a WhatsApp audio call via my Apple Watch.
- I can’t view the incoming media on my Apple Watch, such as documents, images, videos, and voice notes.
- I can’t view or post status updates on WhatsApp.
- I can’t view the chat history with a person.
- I can’t reply to a particular message; the replies are sent independently.
Send WhatsApp Messages via Third-Party Apps
While the basic functionality of WhatsApp on the Apple Watch is sufficient for me because I don’t want a tiny keyboard to carry on conversations, it might not be enough for everyone. For sending a new message, you will need a third-party app on your Apple Watch.
Simply head to the App Store on your iPhone and type WhatsApp for Apple Watch, and various apps will be displayed. From here, you can choose whichever you feel comfortable with. Personally, I really enjoy using WatchChat2.
The setup of this app is the same as how you would set up WhatsApp web, i.e., by scanning the QR code on the watch. A few observations I had with this app were:
- It requires a strong Wi-Fi connection since it works like WhatsApp Web.
- Loading messages takes a tad longer since it takes time to sync with your WhatsApp.
- The media (images and videos) takes longer to load.
- It displays previous chats that are not normally available with WhatsApp on the Apple Watch.
This app has a free version, which fits the bill for casual users, and it is pretty much a decent replacement for WhatsApp on your Apple Watch. However, it did lag a little, and new messages took time to load since it’s not an official app for WhatsApp.
For people who want to unlock its full potential, the app comes with in-app purchases. Some other apps that are good for using WhatsApp on the Apple Watch are WatchApp+ and WatchsApp.
Wrap Up
While these third-party apps offer convenience with more functionality by using WhatsApp on the Apple Watch, they work the same as WhatsApp Web. This means that the Apple Watch and the iPhone need to be nearby and have a working internet connection in order for these apps to work.
Although apps like WatchChat2 are convenient on the go, I still find carrying on a full-blown conversation on a tiny watch screen tedious. Personally, the quick replies of the official WhatsApp notifications suffice.
