{{Short description|Messaging and VoIP service owned by Meta}} {{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use American English|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox software | name = WhatsApp | title = WhatsApp Messenger | logo = {{#Property:P154}} | logo_upright = 0.6 | collapsible = no | screenshot = WhatsApp on Android screenshot.png | screenshot alt = Screenshot depicting WhatsApp's home screen in 2025 | caption = Screenshot depicting WhatsApp's home screen in 2025 | author = Brian Acton, Jan Koum | developer = Meta Platforms, Will Cathcart (Head of WhatsApp)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-whatsapp-tops-2-billion-users-ceo-vows-to-defend-encryption-11581516000 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |title=As WhatsApp Tops 2 Billion Users, Its Boss Vows to Defend Encryption |access-date=April 2, 2020 |first=Jeff |last=Horwitz |date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317001048/https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-whatsapp-tops-2-billion-users-ceo-vows-to-defend-encryption-11581516000 |archive-date=March 17, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WashingtonPostWhatsAppPushback>{{cite news|first=Will|last=Cathcart|access-date=October 30, 2019|title=Why WhatsApp is pushing back on NSO Group hacking |date=October 29, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/29/why-whatsapp-is-pushing-back-nso-group-hacking/|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030001047/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/29/why-whatsapp-is-pushing-back-nso-group-hacking/|archive-date=October 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | released = {{Start date and age|2009|05|03}} | ver layout = stacked | programming language = Erlang<ref name="fastcompany">{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3026758/inside-erlang-the-rare-programming-language-behind-whatsapps-success|title=Inside Erlang, The Rare Programming Language Behind WhatsApp's Success|work=Fast Company|first=Ainsley|last=O'Connell|date=February 21, 2014|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202171209/https://www.fastcompany.com/3026758/inside-erlang-the-rare-programming-language-behind-whatsapps-success|archive-date=February 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | operating system = Android, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Windows, Wear OS, Meta Quest, watchOS | size = 183.7 MB (iOS)<ref name=iphone>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/app/id310633997|title=WhatsApp Messenger|website=App Store|access-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430022747/https://apps.apple.com/app/id310633997|archive-date=April 30, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><br /> 48.02 MB (Android)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp/|title=WhatsApp Messenger APKs|website=APKMirror|access-date=April 14, 2024}}</ref> | genre = Social media, instant messaging, VoIP | website = {{URL|https://whatsapp.com}} | language count = 40 (iOS) and 60 (Android)<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp Help Center – How to change WhatsApp's language|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/account-and-profile/how-to-change-whatsapps-language/?lang=en|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=whatsapp.com|archive-date=July 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703094938/https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/account-and-profile/how-to-change-whatsapps-language?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> | license = Proprietary software with EULA<br>"European Region"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/?lang=en|title=WhatsApp|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=June 23, 2022|archive-date=October 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022115919/https://www.whatsapp.com/legal?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref><br>"others"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-terms/?lang=en|title=WhatsApp Business Terms of Service|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=June 23, 2022|archive-date=August 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805095124/http://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-terms/?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> }} {{Meta sidebar}}
'''WhatsApp Messenger''', commonly known simply as '''WhatsApp''', is an American social media, instant messaging (IM), and Voice over IP (VoIP) service accessible via desktop and mobile app.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mihir |last=Patkar |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/whatsapp-desktop-client-windows-mac-second-best/ |title=WhatsApp Desktop Client for Windows & Mac Is Only Second Best |website=MakeUseOf |date=February 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227185839/https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/whatsapp-desktop-client-windows-mac-second-best/|archive-date=February 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="metz-wired">{{Cite magazine |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=April 5, 2016 |title=Forget Apple vs. the FBI: WhatsApp Just Switched on Encryption for a Billion People |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/04/forget-apple-vs-fbi-whatsapp-just-switched-encryption-billion-people/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409122905/https://www.wired.com/2016/04/forget-apple-vs-fbi-whatsapp-just-switched-encryption-billion-people/ |archive-date=April 9, 2017 |access-date=May 13, 2016 |magazine=Wired |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> Owned by Meta Platforms, the service allows users to send text messages, voice messages, and video messages,<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/features/|title=Features|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528133052/https://www.whatsapp.com/features/|archive-date=May 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other content.<ref name=":6">{{Citation|url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-voice-calling-now-open-to-all-android-users-report-669693|title=Voice calling|work=NDTV Gadgets 360 |date=March 12, 2015|access-date=March 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317074148/http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-voice-calling-now-open-to-all-android-users-report-669693|archive-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Olson150407 /> The service requires a cellular mobile telephone number to register.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/general/21009863/?category=5245245|title=WhatsApp FAQ – Using one WhatsApp account on multiple phones, or with multiple phone numbers|website=whatsapp.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510051542/https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/general/21009863/?category=5245245|archive-date=May 10, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp was launched in May 2009.<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine |last=Rowan |first=David |title=WhatsApp: The inside story |date=February 19, 2014 |url=https://www.wired.com/story/whatsapp-exclusive/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |magazine=Wired |issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Hannah L. |date=2020-08-31 |title=Jan Koum: The Inspirational Story of the Founder of WhatsApp |url=https://leaders.com/articles/leaders-stories/jan-koum/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Leaders.com |archive-date=October 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251025122307/https://leaders.com/articles/leaders-stories/jan-koum/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2018, WhatsApp released a standalone business app called WhatsApp Business which can communicate with the standard WhatsApp client.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2018 |title=There's a new version of WhatsApp |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-business-app-download-android-google-play-iphone-features-a8167631.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805075019/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-business-app-download-android-google-play-iphone-features-a8167631.html |archive-date=August 5, 2019 |access-date=June 18, 2019 |website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Paul |title=How To Know If Your Business Should Use The New WhatsApp Business App |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2019/04/06/how-to-know-if-your-business-should-use-the-new-whatsapp-business-app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408201512/https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2019/04/06/how-to-know-if-your-business-should-use-the-new-whatsapp-business-app/ |archive-date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=June 18, 2019 |website=Forbes}}</ref> As of May 2025, the service had 3 billion monthly active users, making it the most used messenger app.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/01/whatsapp-now-has-more-than-3-billion-users/ | title=WhatsApp now has more than 3 billion users a month | first=Ivan | last=Mehta | work=TechCrunch | date=May 1, 2025}}</ref> The name of the app is meant to sound like "what's up".
The service was created by WhatsApp Inc. of Mountain View, California, which was acquired by Facebook in February 2014 for approximately US$19.3 billion.<ref name="wsj20140220">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-to-buy-whatsapp-for-16-billion-1392847766|title=Facebook to Pay $19 Billion for WhatsApp|last1=Albergotti|first1=Reed|date=February 20, 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 20, 2019|last2=MacMillan|first2=Douglas|pages=A1, A6|issn=0099-9660|last3=Rusli|first3=Evelyn M.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002220233/https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-to-buy-whatsapp-for-16-billion-1392847766|archive-date=October 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fb-buyout">{{cite press release|title=Facebook to Acquire WhatsApp|url= http://newsroom.fb.com/News/805/Facebook-to-Acquire-WhatsApp|date= February 19, 2014|access-date= February 19, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140220020357/http://newsroom.fb.com/News/805/Facebook-to-Acquire-WhatsApp|archive-date= February 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> It became the world's most popular messaging application in 2015, with 900 million users,<ref name="metz-wired"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/11/facebook-incs-whatsapp-hits-900-million-users-what.aspx|title=Facebook Inc.'s WhatsApp Hits 900 Million Users: What Now?|first=Leo|last=Sun|date=September 11, 2015|work=The Motley Fool|access-date=October 21, 2015|archive-date=October 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014235930/http://www.gb-whatsapp.website/investing/general/2015/09/11/facebook-incs-whatsapp-hits-900-million-users-what.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> and had more than 2{{nbsp}}billion active users worldwide in February 2020.<ref name=2-billion-users>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000666/Two-Billion-Users--Connecting-the-World-Privately|title=WhatsApp Blog|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=February 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214043828/https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000666/Two-Billion-Users--Connecting-the-World-Privately|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp Business had approximately 200 million monthly users in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp denies report platform is exploring ads |website=Reuters |date=September 15, 2023 |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/whatsapp-explores-ads-chat-app-ft-2023-09-15/ |access-date=April 27, 2024 |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010215625/https://www.reuters.com/technology/whatsapp-explores-ads-chat-app-ft-2023-09-15/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2016, it had become the primary means of Internet communication in regions including the Americas, the Indian subcontinent, and large parts of Europe and Africa.<ref name="metz-wired"/>
== History == {{WhatsApp timeline}}
=== 2009–2014 === WhatsApp was founded by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, former employees of Yahoo. Koum incorporated WhatsApp Inc. in California on February 24, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 24, 2009 |title=Article of Incorporation on California's Secretary Of State website |url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=03107761-5735434 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318054743/https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=03107761-5735434 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=December 20, 2020}}</ref> A month earlier, Koum had purchased an iPhone, and he and Acton decided to create an app for the App Store. The idea started off as an app that would display statuses in a phone's Contacts menu, showing if a person was at work or on a call.<ref name="History" />
Their discussions often took place at the home of Koum's Russian friend Alex Fishman in West San Jose. They realized that to take the idea further, they would need an iPhone developer. Fishman visited RentACoder.com, found Russian developer Igor Solomennikov, and introduced him to Koum.<ref name="History" />
Koum named the app WhatsApp to sound like "what's up" and it was published on the Apple App Store and BlackBerry App World in May and June 2009 respectively.<ref name=":8" /> However, when early versions of WhatsApp kept crashing, Koum considered giving up and looking for a new job. Acton encouraged him to wait for a "few more months".<ref name="History" />
In June 2009, when the app had been downloaded by only a handful of Fishman's Russian-speaking friends, Apple launched push technology, allowing users to be pinged even when not using the app. Koum updated WhatsApp so that everyone in the user's network would be notified when a user's status changed. This new facility, to Koum's surprise, was used by users to ping "each other with jokey custom statuses like, 'I woke up late' or 'I'm on my way.'"<ref name="History" /> Fishman said, "At some point it sort of became instant messaging".<ref name="History" />
WhatsApp 2.0, released for iPhone in August 2009, featured a purpose-designed messaging component; the number of active users suddenly increased to 250,000.{{citation needed|date=February 2026}}
Although Acton was working on another startup idea, he decided to join the company.<ref name="History" /> In October 2009, Acton persuaded five former friends at Yahoo! to invest $250,000 in seed funding, and Acton became a co-founder and was given a stake. He officially joined WhatsApp on November 1.<ref name="History" /> Koum then hired a friend in Los Angeles, Chris Peiffer, to develop a BlackBerry version, which arrived two months later.<ref name="History" /> Subsequently, WhatsApp for Symbian OS was added in May 2010, and for Android OS in August 2010.<ref name="MyUser_Venturebeat.com_June_5_2016c" /> In 2010 Google made multiple acquisition offers for WhatsApp, which were all declined.<ref name="Neeraj">{{Cite AV media |people=Neeraj Arora |title=Neeraj Arora on learnings from his WhatsApp journey |date=July 3, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJl27KvUDn0 | work=Accel | via=YouTube |time=19m |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=February 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228152823/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJl27KvUDn0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
To cover the cost of sending verification texts to users, WhatsApp was changed from a free service to a paid one. In December 2009, the ability to send photos was added to the iOS version. By early 2011, WhatsApp was one of the top 20 apps in the U.S. Apple App Store.<ref name="History" />
In April 2011, Sequoia Capital invested about $8 million for more than 15% of the company, after months of negotiation by Sequoia partner Jim Goetz.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-20/sequoia-s-whatsapp-stake-said-worth-about-3-5-billion|title=Sequoia Said to Reap $3.5 Billion in Deal|last=Levy|first=Ari|date=February 19, 2014|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018235715/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-20/sequoia-s-whatsapp-stake-said-worth-about-3-5-billion|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-whatsapp-facebook-sequoia-idUSBREA1K04720140221#vA3wxFHSqy1OIRZI.97|title=With WhatsApp deal, Sequoia Capital burnishes reputation |last=McBride|first=Sarah|date=February 21, 2014|work=Reuters|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521011300/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-whatsapp-facebook-sequoia-idUSBREA1K04720140221#vA3wxFHSqy1OIRZI.97|archive-date=May 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/08/sequoia-whatsapp-funding/|title=Sequoia Invests $8 Million In Messaging App Maker WhatsApp|last=Wauters|first=Robin|work=TechCrunch|date=April 8, 2011 |access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504160125/https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/08/sequoia-whatsapp-funding/|archive-date=May 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
By February 2013, WhatsApp had about 200 million active users and 50 staff members. Sequoia invested another $50 million at a $1.5 billion valuation.<ref name="History"/> Some time in 2013<ref>{{Cite news |title=Why WhatsApp's Global Launch of Video Calling in India Is Big |date=November 15, 2016 |last=Vengurlekar |first=Ankit |publisher=The Quint |url=https://www.thequint.com/tech-and-auto/tech-news/whatsapp-video-calling-global-launch-new-delhi-facetime-facebook-messenger-google-apple-technology-social-media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115232418/https://www.thequint.com/tech-and-auto/tech-news/whatsapp-video-calling-global-launch-new-delhi-facetime-facebook-messenger-google-apple-technology-social-media#bypass-sw |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |access-date=January 13, 2021}}</ref> WhatsApp acquired Santa Clara–based startup SkyMobius, the developers of Vtok,<ref>{{Cite web |title=SkyMobius: Voice messaging app developer |date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121222726/https://tracxn.com/d/companies/skymobius.com |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |url=https://tracxn.com/d/companies/skymobius.com |website=tracxn.com |access-date=January 13, 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a video and voice calling app.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vtok |via=Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/vtokapp |access-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>
As of December 2013, the service had 400 million monthly active users.<ref>{{cite web|title=400 Million Stories|url=http://blog.whatsapp.com/index.php/2013/12/400-million-stories/?lang=de|work=WhatsApp Blog|publisher=WhatsApp|access-date=January 17, 2014|first=Jan|last=Koum|date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412064444/http://blog.whatsapp.com/index.php/2013/12/400-million-stories/?lang=de|archive-date=April 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, the company had $148 million in expenses and a net loss of $138 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680114000047/exhibit991auditedwhatsappi.htm |title=Exhibit 99.1 AuditedWhatsAppIncFY13 |website=sec.gov|accessdate=May 6, 2023|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207144812/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680114000047/exhibit991auditedwhatsappi.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== 2014–2015 === On February 19, 2014, one year after the venture capital financing round at a $1.5 billion valuation,<ref name="Tsotsis 2014" /> Facebook, Inc. (now Meta Platforms) agreed to acquire the company for US$19 billion, its largest acquisition to date.<ref name="fb-buyout" /> At the time, it was the largest acquisition of a venture-capital-backed company in history.<ref name="wsj20140220" /> Sequoia Capital received an approximate 5,000% return on its initial investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/whatsapp-investors-make-billions-facebook-acquisition-sequoia-capital-sees-50x-return-13-billion|title=WhatsApp Investors Make Billions From Facebook Acquisition: Sequoia Capital Sees 50x Return on $1.3 Billion Investment |last=Neal|first=Ryan W.|date=February 20, 2014|website=International Business Times|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801124712/https://www.ibtimes.com/whatsapp-investors-make-billions-facebook-acquisition-sequoia-capital-sees-50x-return-13-billion|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Facebook paid $4 billion in cash, $12 billion in Facebook shares, and an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units granted to WhatsApp's founders Koum and Acton.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-20/whatsapp-s-founder-goes-from-food-stamps-to-billionaire.html|title=WhatsApp's Founder Goes From Food Stamps to Billionaire|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=February 20, 2014 |publisher=Bloomberg News|access-date=February 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220072216/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-20/whatsapp-s-founder-goes-from-food-stamps-to-billionaire.html|archive-date=February 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Employee stock was scheduled to vest over four years subsequent to closing.<ref name="fb-buyout" /> Days after the announcement, WhatsApp users experienced a loss of service, leading to anger across social media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/461289/Twitter-outrage-as-users-claim-WhatsApp-has-gone-down-days-after-Facebook-purchase|title=Twitter outrage as users claim WhatsApp has gone down days after Facebook purchase |last=Dassanayake|first=Dion|date=February 23, 2014|website=Daily Express|access-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608041110/http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/461289/Twitter-outrage-as-users-claim-WhatsApp-has-gone-down-days-after-Facebook-purchase|archive-date=June 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
The acquisition was influenced by the data provided by Onavo, Facebook's research app for monitoring competitors and trending usage of social activities on mobile phones, as well as startups that were performing "unusually well".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-new-copycats-how-facebook-squashes-competition-from-startups-1502293444|title=The New Copycats: How Facebook Squashes Competition From Startups|last1=Morris|first1=Betsy|date=August 9, 2017|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=August 15, 2017|last2=Seetharaman|first2=Deepa|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107213832/https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-new-copycats-how-facebook-squashes-competition-from-startups-1502293444|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/08/09/new-copycats-how-facebook-squashes-2.html|title=The New Copycats: How Facebook Squashes −2-|date=August 9, 2017|work=Fox Business|access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219061505/http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/08/09/new-copycats-how-facebook-squashes-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/13/facebook-knew-about-snap-struggles-through-app-tracking/|title=Facebook knew about Snap's struggles months before the public|website=Engadget|date=August 13, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217125922/https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/13/facebook-knew-about-snap-struggles-through-app-tracking/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The acquisition caused many users to try, or move to, other message services. Telegram claimed that it acquired 8 million new users,<ref name=TelegramDownloads>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/telegram-saw-8m-downloads-after-whatsapp-got-acquired/|title=Telegram Saw 8M Downloads After WhatsApp Got Acquired|last=Tsotsis|first=Alexia|date=February 25, 2014|website=TechCrunch|access-date=February 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226134422/http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/telegram-saw-8m-downloads-after-whatsapp-got-acquired/|archive-date=February 26, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and Line, 2 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/25/line-gets-whatsapp-outage-bump/|title=Line saw 2m new users after the outage of Whatsapp|last=Lomas|first=Natasha|date=February 25, 2014|website=TechCrunch|access-date=February 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226180212/http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/25/line-gets-whatsapp-outage-bump/|archive-date=February 26, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
At a keynote presentation at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2014, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp was closely related to the Internet.org vision.<ref name="techcrunch-whatsapp-io">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/whatsapp-is-actually-worth-more-than-19b-says-facebooks-zuckerberg/|title=WhatsApp Is Actually Worth More Than $19B, Says Facebook's Zuckerberg, And It Was Internet.org That Sealed The Deal|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|date=February 24, 2014|website=TechCrunch|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225004524/http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/whatsapp-is-actually-worth-more-than-19b-says-facebooks-zuckerberg/|archive-date=February 25, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/mark-zuckerberg-whatsapp-is-worth-more-than-19-billion-1227925|title=Mark Zuckerberg: WhatsApp is worth more than $19 billion|last=Fitzsimmons|first=Michelle|date=February 24, 2014|website=TechRadar|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227234130/http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/mark-zuckerberg-whatsapp-is-worth-more-than-19-billion-1227925|archive-date=February 27, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> A ''TechCrunch'' article said about Zuckerberg's vision:<blockquote>The idea, he said, is to develop a group of basic internet services that would be free of charge to use – "a 911 for the internet". These could be a social networking service like Facebook, a messaging service, maybe search and other things like weather. Providing a bundle of these free of charge to users will work like a gateway drug of sorts – users who may be able to afford data services and phones these days just don't see the point of why they would pay for those data services. This would give them some context for why they are important, and that will lead them to pay for more services like this – or so the hope goes.<ref name=techcrunch-whatsapp-io /></blockquote>
Three days after announcing the Facebook purchase, Koum said they were working to introduce voice calls. He also said that new mobile phones would be sold in Germany with the WhatsApp brand, and that their ultimate goal was to be on all smartphones.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.expansion.com/2014/02/24/empresas/digitech/1393246645.html|title=WhatsApp permitirá llamadas de voz |date=February 24, 2014|work=Expansión|access-date=July 2, 2014|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230237/http://www.expansion.com/2014/02/24/empresas/digitech/1393246645.html|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2014, WhatsApp was the most popular messaging app in the world, with more than 600 million users.<ref name="Parmy Olsen">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/08/25/whatsapp-hits-600-million-active-users-founder-says/|title=WhatsApp Hits 600 Million Active Users, Founder Says|last=Olsen|first=Parmy|date=August 25, 2014|website=Forbes|access-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929193100/http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/08/25/whatsapp-hits-600-million-active-users-founder-says/|archive-date=September 29, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> By early January 2015, WhatsApp had 700 million monthly users and over 30 billion messages every day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/WhatsApps-Insane-Growth-Continues-100-Million-New-Users-in-4-Months/articleshow/45786867.cms|title=WhatsApp's Insane Growth Continues: 100 Million New Users in 4 Months|last=Kim|first=Eugene|date=January 7, 2015|website=Business Insider|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110040710/http://www.businessinsider.in/WhatsApps-Insane-Growth-Continues-100-Million-New-Users-in-4-Months/articleshow/45786867.cms|archive-date=January 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2015, ''Forbes'' predicted that between 2012 and 2018, the telecommunications industry would lose $386 billion because of "over-the-top" services like WhatsApp and Skype.<ref name=Olson150407>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2015/04/07/facebooks-whatsapp-voice-calling/|title=Facebook's Phone Company: WhatsApp Goes To The Next Level With Its Voice Calling Service|first=Parmy|last=Olson|work=Forbes|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=April 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407154344/https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2015/04/07/facebooks-whatsapp-voice-calling/|archive-date=2015-04-07|url-status=live}}</ref> That month, WhatsApp had over 800 million users.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-DGB-41359|title=WhatsApp Hits 800 Million Users — 1 Billion by Year-End?|last=Seetharaman|first=Deepa|date=April 17, 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171018165539/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/04/17/whatsapp-hits-800000-users-1-billion-by-year-end/|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=April 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/whatsapp-touts-800m-monthly-active-users/|title=WhatsApp touts 800M monthly active users|first=Nate|last=Ralph|publisher=CNET|date=April 18, 2015|access-date=April 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419212616/http://www.cnet.com/news/whatsapp-touts-800m-monthly-active-users/|archive-date=April 19, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> By September 2015, it had grown to 900 million;<ref name="usatoday.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/09/04/whatsapp-facebook-900-million-mark-zuckerberg-jan-koum-messenger/71704760/|title=Facebook's WhatsApp hits 900 million users, aims for 1 billion|work=USA Today|first=Jessica|last=Guynn|date=September 4, 2015|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018162226/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/09/04/whatsapp-facebook-900-million-mark-zuckerberg-jan-koum-messenger/71704760/|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and by February 2016, one billion.<ref name="Statt-2016-02-01">{{cite web|last=Statt|first=Nick|title=WhatsApp has grown to 1 billion users|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/1/10889534/whats-app-1-billion-users-facebook-mark-zuckerberg|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media, Inc.|access-date=April 6, 2016|date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413090531/http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/1/10889534/whats-app-1-billion-users-facebook-mark-zuckerberg|archive-date=April 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 30, 2015, the Android WhatsApp client made links to Telegram unclickable and not copyable.<ref name="techcrunch-re-Telegram">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/12/01/whatsapp-is-blocking-links-to-rival-app-telegram-on-android/|title=WhatsApp Is Blocking Links To Rival App Telegram On Android|last=Lomas|first=Natasha|date=December 1, 2015|work=TechCrunch|access-date=December 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206124316/http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/01/whatsapp-is-blocking-links-to-rival-app-telegram-on-android/|archive-date=December 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="verge-re-Telegram">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/30/9819460/whatsapp-telegram-link-block-copy-paste|title=WhatsApp is blocking links to a competing messenger app|last=Brandom|first=Russell|date=November 30, 2015|work=The Verge|access-date=December 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208020939/http://www.theverge.com/2015/11/30/9819460/whatsapp-telegram-link-block-copy-paste|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice">{{cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/09/09/whatsapp-is-blocking-telegram-links-in-the-android-app/|title=[Update: Smoking Gun] WhatsApp Is Blocking Telegram Links In Its Android App|last=Lobao|first=Martim|date=December 1, 2015|work=Android Police|access-date=December 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909182414/http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/09/09/whatsapp-is-blocking-telegram-links-in-the-android-app/|archive-date=September 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple sources confirmed that it was intentional, not a bug,<ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice" /> and that it had been implemented when the Android source code that recognized Telegram URLs had been identified.<ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice" /> (The word "telegram" appeared in WhatsApp's code.<ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice" />) Some considered it an anti-competitive measure;<ref name="techcrunch-re-Telegram" /><ref name="verge-re-Telegram" /><ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice" /> WhatsApp offered no explanation.
=== 2016–2019 === On January 18, 2016, WhatsApp's co-founder Jan Koum announced that it would no longer charge users a $1 annual subscription fee, in an effort to remove a barrier faced by users without payment cards.<ref name="Fried-18-January-2016 b">{{cite web|url=https://www.recode.net/2016/1/18/11588896/facebook-owned-whatsapp-to-drop-subscription-fees-for-its-popular|title=Facebook's Whatsapp is Now Free|first=Ina|last=Fried|date=January 18, 2016|website=Re Code|publisher=Vox Media, Inc.|access-date=January 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519195620/http://www.recode.net/2016/1/18/11588896/facebook-owned-whatsapp-to-drop-subscription-fees-for-its-popular|archive-date=May 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wsj-18-January-2016 2">{{Cite news|title=Whatsapp to Drop Subscription Fee|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/whatsapp-to-drop-subscription-fee-1453115467|journal=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=January 18, 2016|date=January 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118142257/http://www.wsj.com/articles/whatsapp-to-drop-subscription-fee-1453115467|archive-date=January 18, 2016|url-status=dead|last=Drozdiak|first=Natalia}}</ref> He also said that the app would not display any third-party ads, and that it would have new features such as the ability to communicate with businesses.<ref name="Statt-2016-02-01" /><ref name="Phonearena-18-January-2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.phonearena.com/news/Finally-Whatsapp-removes-1-annual-subscription-fee_id77505 |title=Finally! Whatsapp removes $1 annual subscription fee |date=January 18, 2016 |website=PhoneArena.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801094427/https://www.phonearena.com/news/Finally-Whatsapp-removes-1-annual-subscription-fee_id77505 |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On May 18, 2017, the European Commission announced that it was fining Facebook €110 million for "providing misleading information about WhatsApp takeover" in 2014. The Commission said that in 2014 when Facebook acquired the messaging app, it "falsely claimed it was technically impossible to automatically combine user information from Facebook and WhatsApp." However, in the summer of 2016, WhatsApp had begun sharing user information with its parent company, allowing information such as phone numbers to be used for targeted Facebook advertisements. Facebook acknowledged the breach, but said the errors in their 2014 filings were "not intentional".<ref name="EU-commission-fined-fb">{{cite web|title=Facebook fined €110m by European Commission over WhatsApp deal|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/ip_17_1369/IP_17_1369_EN.pdf|publisher=European Commission|access-date=August 1, 2020|date=May 18, 2017|archive-date=September 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911214229/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/ip_17_1369/IP_17_1369_EN.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2017, WhatsApp's co-founder Brian Acton left the company to start a nonprofit group,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Jon|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/13/whatsapp-co-founder-brian-acton-is-leaving-to-start-a-non-profit/|title=WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton is leaving to start a non-profit|work=TechCrunch|date=September 13, 2017|access-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016135421/https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/13/whatsapp-co-founder-brian-acton-is-leaving-to-start-a-non-profit/|archive-date=October 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> later revealed as the Signal Foundation, which developed the WhatsApp competitor Signal.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Greenberg|first=Andy|title=WhatsApp Co-Founder Puts $50M Into Signal To Supercharge Encrypted Messaging|url=https://www.wired.com/story/signal-foundation-whatsapp-brian-acton/|magazine=Wired|access-date=October 18, 2018|date=February 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915050519/https://www.wired.com/story/signal-foundation-whatsapp-brian-acton/|archive-date=September 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He explained his reasons for leaving in an interview with Forbes a year later.<ref>{{Cite interview |title=Exclusive: WhatsApp Cofounder Brian Acton Gives The Inside Story On #DeleteFacebook And Why He Left $850 Million Behind |last=Acton |first=Brian |interviewer=Parmy Olson |website=Forbes |date=September 26, 2018 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/09/26/exclusive-whatsapp-cofounder-brian-acton-gives-the-inside-story-on-deletefacebook-and-why-he-left-850-million-behind/ |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502002043/https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/09/26/exclusive-whatsapp-cofounder-brian-acton-gives-the-inside-story-on-deletefacebook-and-why-he-left-850-million-behind/ |url-status=live }}</ref> WhatsApp also announced a forthcoming business platform to enable companies to provide customer service at scale,<ref name=WhatsApp-Blog-People-and-Businesses>{{cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000633/Building-for-People-and-Now-Businesses|title=Building for People, and Now Businesses|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908180722/http://blog.whatsapp.com/10000633/Building-for-People-and-Now-Businesses|archive-date=September 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and airlines KLM and Aeroméxico announced their participation in the testing.<ref name="WhatsApp-Blog-People-and-Businesses" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Marisa |date=September 5, 2017 |url=https://www.phocuswire.com/KLM-claims-airline-first-with-WhatsApp-Business-Platform |title=KLM Claims Airline First with WhatsApp Business Platform |work=Phocuswire |access-date=January 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205211831/https://www.phocuswire.com/KLM-claims-airline-first-with-WhatsApp-Business-Platform |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com.mx/aeromexico-te-respondera-por-whatsapp-durante-2018/ |title=Aeroméxico te Atenderá por WhatsApp Durante 2018 |trans-title=Aeromexico Will Assist You via WhatsApp during 2018 |date=October 26, 2017 |website=Forbes México |language=es |access-date=March 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702180522/https://www.forbes.com.mx/aeromexico-te-respondera-por-whatsapp-durante-2018/ |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com.mx/2017/10/27/podras-hacer-check-in-y-consultar-tu-vuelo-con-aeromexico-a-traves-de-whatsapp_a_23258181/ |title=Podrás Hacer 'Check In' y Consultar tu Vuelo con Aeroméxico a Través de WhatsApp |trans-title=You Can Check In and Check Your Aeromexico Flight via WhatsApp |language=es |journal=HuffPost |last=Redacción |date=October 27, 2017 |access-date=March 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310135702/https://www.huffingtonpost.com.mx/2017/10/27/podras-hacer-check-in-y-consultar-tu-vuelo-con-aeromexico-a-traves-de-whatsapp_a_23258181/ |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both airlines had previously launched customer services on the Facebook Messenger platform.
In January 2018, WhatsApp launched WhatsApp Business for small business use.<ref name=Small-Business />
In April 2018, WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum announced he would be leaving the company.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dwoskin|first=Elizabeth|title=WhatsApp founder plans to leave after broad clashes with parent Facebook|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/whatsapp-founder-plans-to-leave-after-broad-clashes-with-parent-facebook/2018/04/30/49448dd2-4ca9-11e8-84a0-458a1aa9ac0a_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 18, 2018|date=April 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930064717/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/whatsapp-founder-plans-to-leave-after-broad-clashes-with-parent-facebook/2018/04/30/49448dd2-4ca9-11e8-84a0-458a1aa9ac0a_story.html|archive-date=September 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> By leaving before November 2018, due to concerns about privacy, advertising, and monetization by Facebook,<ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp founder, Brian Acton, says Facebook used him to get its acquisition past EU regulators |first=Natasha |last=Lomas |work=TechCrunch |date=September 26, 2018 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/26/whatsapp-founder-brian-acton-says-facebook-used-him-to-get-its-acquisition-past-eu-regulators/ |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107035319/https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/26/whatsapp-founder-brian-acton-says-facebook-used-him-to-get-its-acquisition-past-eu-regulators/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Acton and Koum were initially believed to have given up $1.3 billion in unvested stock options,<ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton, desperate to quit Facebook, reportedly left $1.3 billion in stock options behind |last=Stangel |first=Luke |work=Silicon Valley Business Journal |date=June 6, 2018 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2018/06/06/whatsapp-koum-acton-quit-facebook-disagreement.html |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223175917/https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2018/06/06/whatsapp-koum-acton-quit-facebook-disagreement.html |url-status=live }}</ref> however, it was later reported that Koum retained $450M worth of options via a "rest and vest" program.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/15/whatsapps-jan-koum-left-facebook-but-is-still-showing-up-to-vest-stock.html|title=The WhatsApp founder who left Facebook is still employed, in an apparent move to vest stock|last=Salinas|first=Sara|date=2018-08-15|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-08-16|archive-date=May 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521015306/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/15/whatsapps-jan-koum-left-facebook-but-is-still-showing-up-to-vest-stock.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/whatsapp-founder-jan-koum-rest-and-vest-for-450-million-facebook-stock-2018-8 |title=The billionaire cofounder of WhatsApp is 'resting and vesting' — showing up to Facebook and barely working to collect a $450 million payday |first=Kif |last=Leswing |date=2018-08-15 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2025-05-25 |archive-date=May 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250530183053/https://www.businessinsider.com/whatsapp-founder-jan-koum-rest-and-vest-for-450-million-facebook-stock-2018-8 |url-status=live }}</ref> Facebook later announced that Koum's replacement would be Chris Daniels.<ref name="Wagner-2018-5-8">{{cite news|last=Wagner|first=Kurt|title=WhatsApp has a new boss: Chris Daniels, the guy who's been running Internet.org|url=https://www.recode.net/2018/5/8/17329524/whatsapp-new-ceo-facebook-cofounder-jan-koum-departs|access-date=October 18, 2018|work=Recode|date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018161836/https://www.recode.net/2018/5/8/17329524/whatsapp-new-ceo-facebook-cofounder-jan-koum-departs|archive-date=October 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 25, 2019, WhatsApp announced an investment of $250,000 through a partnership with Startup India to provide 500 startups with Facebook ad credits of $500 each.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 25, 2019|title=Whatsapp to support Indian startups through ad credits|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/whatsapp-to-support-indian-startups-through-ad-credits/articleshow/72222458.cms|access-date=January 7, 2020|newspaper=The Economic Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109120624/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/whatsapp-to-support-indian-startups-through-ad-credits/articleshow/72222458.cms|archive-date=January 9, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2019, WhatsApp announced that a new update would lock out any Apple users who had not updated to iOS 9 or higher and Samsung, Huawei, Sony and Google users who had not updated to version 4.0 by February 1, 2020. The company also reported that Windows Phone operating systems would no longer be supported after December 31, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-latest-version-android-iphone-update-ios-not-working-a9240286.html|title=WhatsApp is about to stop working on millions of phones|date=December 10, 2019|website=The Independent|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212031112/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-latest-version-android-iphone-update-ios-not-working-a9240286.html|archive-date=December 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp was announced to be the 3rd most downloaded mobile phone app of the decade 2010–2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/16/apps-and-games-of-the-decade/|title=These were the most-downloaded apps and games of the decade|last=Miller|first=Chance|date=December 17, 2019|website=9to5Mac|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217130013/https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/16/apps-and-games-of-the-decade/|archive-date=December 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Since 2020 === In March 2020, WhatsApp partnered with the World Health Organization and UNICEF to provide messaging hotlines for people to get information on the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp unveils $1M grant, info hub to fight coronavirus rumors|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/18/whatsapp-unveils-1m-grant-and-info-hub-to-fight-coronavirus-rumors/|last=Singh|first=Manish|date=March 18, 2020|website=TechCrunch|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=2020-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318135028/https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/18/whatsapp-unveils-1m-grant-and-info-hub-to-fight-coronavirus-rumors/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same month, WhatsApp began testing a feature to help users find out more information and context about information they receive to help combat misinformation.<ref name=SearchTheWeb>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp tests new feature to fight misinformation: Search the web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/21/whatsapp-search-web-coronavirus/|last=Singh|first=Manish|date=March 21, 2020|website=TechCrunch|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=2020-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321192624/https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/21/whatsapp-search-web-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/959164027834664/?locale=en_US |title=How to do an internet search on forwarded WhatsApp messages | WhatsApp Help Center |access-date=September 19, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171757/https://faq.whatsapp.com/959164027834664/?locale=en_US |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/search-the-web |title=Search the Web |access-date=September 19, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920175613/https://blog.whatsapp.com/search-the-web |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/apps/whatsapp-new-search-the-web-feature-how-it-works-11596531975628.html |title=WhatsApp new 'Search the web' feature: How it works |work=Mint |date=August 4, 2020 |access-date=September 19, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173121/https://www.livemint.com/technology/apps/whatsapp-new-search-the-web-feature-how-it-works-11596531975628.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In January 2021, WhatsApp announced a controversial new privacy policy allowing WhatsApp to share data with its parent company, Facebook. This led many users to delete WhatsApp and instead use services such as Signal and Telegram.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/heres-why-whatsapp-users-are-fleeing-for-other-platforms |title=WhatsApp users are increasingly moving to other platforms |date=January 18, 2021 |access-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520070633/https://www.techradar.com/news/heres-why-whatsapp-users-are-fleeing-for-other-platforms |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the WhatsApp privacy policy does not apply in the EU, since it violates the principles of GDPR.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=WhatsApp Will Delete Your Account If You Don't Agree Sharing Data With Facebook|url=https://thehackernews.com/2021/01/whatsapp-will-delete-your-account-if.html|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=The Hacker News|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112121245/https://thehackernews.com/2021/01/whatsapp-will-delete-your-account-if.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=Mandatory WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update Allows User Data to be Shared With Facebook|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/06/whatsapp-privacy-policy-data-sharing-facebook/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=MacRumors|date=January 6, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111172125/https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/06/whatsapp-privacy-policy-data-sharing-facebook/|url-status=live}}</ref> Facing criticism, WhatsApp postponed the update to May 15, 2021,<ref name="Kharpal">{{Cite web|last=Kharpal|first=Arjun|date=January 18, 2021|title=WhatsApp delays privacy update over user 'confusion' and backlash about Facebook data sharing|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/18/whatsapp-delays-privacy-update-amid-facebook-data-sharing-confusion.html|access-date=January 18, 2021|publisher=CNBC|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119133043/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/18/whatsapp-delays-privacy-update-amid-facebook-data-sharing-confusion.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 24, 2021|title=WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update|access-date=January 25, 2021|website=The Guardian|archive-date=June 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614203812/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update|url-status=live}}</ref> and had no plans to limit functionality of users, nor nag users who did not approve the new terms.<ref name="effective_date">{{cite web |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/what-happens-when-our-terms-and-privacy-policy-updates-take-effect/ |title=About the effective date |website=whatsapp.com |accessdate=November 17, 2021 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707170606/https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/what-happens-when-our-terms-and-privacy-policy-updates-take-effect |url-status=live }}</ref>
The 2021 Facebook outage affected other platforms owned by Facebook, such as Instagram and WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Subin|first=Samantha|date=October 4, 2021|title=Facebook is suffering its worst outage since 2008 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/04/facebook-instagram-and-whatsapp-are-down.html|access-date=October 4, 2021 |publisher=CNBC|archive-date=October 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004212815/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/04/facebook-instagram-and-whatsapp-are-down.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=October 4, 2021|title=Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram suffer worldwide outage|work=Associated Press News|url=https://apnews.com/article/facebook-whatsapp-instagram-outage-8b9d3862ed957029e545182a595fdce1|access-date=October 4, 2021|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008174023/https://apnews.com/article/facebook-whatsapp-instagram-outage-8b9d3862ed957029e545182a595fdce1|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2022, WhatsApp launched its Cloud API services (now known as WhatsApp Business Platform) for larger businesses requiring features beyond the WhatsApp Business App. The Cloud API enables businesses to integrate WhatsApp with other software, have a central WhatsApp account for multiple users and implement advanced automation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=David |first1=Cohen |title=Meta Unveils WhatsApp Cloud API at Its Conversations Event |url=https://www.adweek.com/social-marketing/meta-unveils-whatsapp-cloud-api-at-its-conversations-event/ |access-date=3 July 2025 |agency=AdWeek |date=19 May 2022 |archive-date=August 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828011134/https://www.adweek.com/social-marketing/meta-unveils-whatsapp-cloud-api-at-its-conversations-event/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In August 2022, WhatsApp launched an integration with JioMart, available only to users in India. Local users can text special numbers in the app to launch an in-app shopping process, where they can order groceries.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pierce |first=David |title=WhatsApp's super app ambitions are starting to come true in India |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/29/23326687/whatsapp-jiomart-india-super-app-grocery-shopping |website=The Verge |date=August 29, 2022 |access-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829133415/https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/29/23326687/whatsapp-jiomart-india-super-app-grocery-shopping |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2024, Meta announced that WhatsApp would let third-party messaging services enable interoperability with WhatsApp, a requirement of the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). This allows users to send messages between other messaging apps and WhatsApp while maintaining end-to-end encryption.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2024 |title=Making messaging interoperability with third parties safe for users in Europe |url=https://engineering.fb.com/2024/03/06/security/whatsapp-messenger-messaging-interoperability-eu/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=Engineering at Meta |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315003511/https://engineering.fb.com/2024/03/06/security/whatsapp-messenger-messaging-interoperability-eu/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=March 6, 2024 |title=To comply with DMA, WhatsApp and Messenger will become interoperable via Signal protocol |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/06/to-comply-with-dma-whatsapp-and-messenger-will-become-interoperable-via-signal/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315003511/https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/06/to-comply-with-dma-whatsapp-and-messenger-will-become-interoperable-via-signal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In January 2026, WhatsApp placed third in YouGov's Best Brands Rankings 2026 report.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CNA remains among top 10 brands in Singapore: YouGov report|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/cna-top-10-brands-singapore-yougov-survey-2026-5893596|website=CNA|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en}}</ref>
In March 2026, Meta allowed AI rivals to be allowed on WhatsApp for a year, in a bid to prevent a possible temporary order from EU antitrust regulators after complains from competitors who were blocked from WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meta to allow AI rivals on WhatsApp in bid to stave off EU action |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/meta-allow-ai-rivals-whatsapp-in-bid-stave-eu-action-5974021 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref>
In April 2026, WhatsApp began testing ''WhatsApp Plus'', an optional subscription to the service that unlocks cosmetic and organizational features, such as unique chat themes, custom lists and more pinned chats.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=2026-04-20 |title=WhatsApp is testing a premium subscription, but it is mainly cosmetic |url=https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/20/whatsapp-is-testing-a-premium-subscription-put-it-is-mainly-cosmetic/ |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> The subscription launched on May 27, 2026.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Perez |first1=Sarah |title=Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions, with more to come, including AI plans |url=https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/27/meta-officially-launches-instagram-facebook-and-whatsapp-subscriptions-with-more-to-come-including-ai-plans/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=1 June 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527180054/https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/27/meta-officially-launches-instagram-facebook-and-whatsapp-subscriptions-with-more-to-come-including-ai-plans/ |archive-date=May 27, 2026 |date=May 27, 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
== Features ==
=== Presence === On February 24, 2017, WhatsApp launched a new Status feature similar to Snapchat and Facebook stories.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 24, 2017 |title=WhatsApp Status: What is This New Snapchat-Like Feature? |work=News18 |url=http://www.news18.com/news/tech/whatsapp-status-what-is-this-new-snapchat-like-feature-1352784.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225134524/http://www.news18.com/news/tech/whatsapp-status-what-is-this-new-snapchat-like-feature-1352784.html |archive-date=February 25, 2017 |access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref> WhatsApp has rolled out a feature called 'Voice Status Updates', which allows users to record voice notes and share them as their status on the app.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 31, 2023 |title=WhatsApp will now let you share voice status, here's how to post one |url=https://www.business-standard.com/technology/apps/whatsapp-will-now-let-you-share-voice-status-here-s-how-to-post-one-123053100420_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531141401/https://www.business-standard.com/technology/apps/whatsapp-will-now-let-you-share-voice-status-here-s-how-to-post-one-123053100420_1.html |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |access-date=May 31, 2023 |work=Business Standard}}</ref>
WhatsApp has the facility to hide users' online status ("Last Seen"). In December 2021, WhatsApp changed the default setting from "everyone" to only people in the user's contacts or who have been conversed with ("nobody" is also an option).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=December 13, 2021 |title=WhatsApp will hide your 'last seen' status from strangers by default |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/13/22832943/whatsapp-privacy-last-seen-status |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220024609/https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/13/22832943/whatsapp-privacy-last-seen-status |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021 |website=The Verge}}</ref> In 2022, WhatsApp added the ability for users to turn off their online status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Stan |date=July 22, 2022 |title=WhatsApp will finally let you hide the fact that you're on WhatsApp all day |url=https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-online-status-hide |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Mashable |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614015501/https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-online-status-hide |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== General texting === In October 2018, the "Swipe to Reply" option was added to the Android beta version, 16 months after it was introduced for iOS.<ref>{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Jagmeet |date=October 3, 2018 |title=WhatsApp for Android Gets 'Swipe to Reply' Gesture Support; Ability to Download External Sticker Packs Tipped |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-android-new-feature-swipe-to-reply-gesture-download-stickers-1926026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223306/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-android-new-feature-swipe-to-reply-gesture-download-stickers-1926026 |archive-date=October 7, 2018 |access-date=October 7, 2018 |publisher=NDTV}}</ref>
In early 2020, WhatsApp launched its "dark mode" for iPhone and Android devices – a new design consisting of a darker palette.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baxter |first=Daryl |title=How to get WhatsApp dark mode |url=https://www.techradar.com/how-to/whatsapp-dark-mode |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307162445/https://www.techradar.com/how-to/whatsapp-dark-mode |archive-date=March 7, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2020 |website=TechRadar}}</ref>
In October 2020, WhatsApp rolled out a feature allowing users to mute both individuals and group chats forever. The mute options are "8 hours", "1 week", and "Always". The "Always" option replaced the "1 year" option that was originally part of the settings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2020 |title=Whatsapp on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/WhatsApp/status/1319461499354509313 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023021231/https://twitter.com/WhatsApp/status/1319461499354509313 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2020 |via=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=October 24, 2020 |title=You can now mute a WhatsApp chat forever |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/you-can-now-mute-a-whatsapp-chat-forever-6851637/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115192200/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/you-can-now-mute-a-whatsapp-chat-forever-6851637/ |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2020 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref>
In May 2023, WhatsApp allowed users to edit messages, aligning itself with competitors such as Telegram and Signal which already offered this feature. According to the company, messages could be edited within a 15-minute window after being sent. Edited messages were tagged as "edited" to inform recipients that the content had been modified.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 23, 2023 |title=WhatsApp to allow users to edit messages within 15 minutes |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65679356 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523024216/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65679356 |archive-date=May 23, 2023 |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Text formatting options like code blocks, quote blocks, and bulleted lists also became available for the first time.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Chandraveer |date=October 27, 2023 |title=Here's everything WhatsApp changed in October 2023 |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/new-whatsapp-features-october-2023-beta-stable-updates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029113235/https://www.androidpolice.com/new-whatsapp-features-october-2023-beta-stable-updates/ |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |access-date=October 31, 2023 |website=Android Police}}</ref>
In October 2024, WhatsApp expanded their chat filter feature, adding the ability for users to create custom lists that contain specific chats of their choice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=November 1, 2024 |title=WhatsApp's new custom lists help organize your chats |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/1/24285380/whatsapp-custom-lists-organize-chats |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
=== Voice and video calling and notes === In August 2013, WhatsApp added voice messages to their apps, giving users a way to send short audio recordings directly in their chats.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olivarez-Giles |first=Nathan |date=August 6, 2013 |title=WhatsApp adds voice messaging as it hits 300 million monthly active users |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/6/4595496/whatsapp-300-million-active-users-voice-messaging-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526132750/https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/6/4595496/whatsapp-300-million-active-users-voice-messaging-update |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Voice Messages |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-voice-messages |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526132751/https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-voice-messages |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com}}</ref>
Voice calls between two accounts were added to the app in March and April 2015.<ref>[https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/31/8318821/whatsapp-voice-calls-android-ios WhatsApp finally adds voice calls for all Android users, iOS coming soon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612154645/https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/31/8318821/whatsapp-voice-calls-android-ios|date=June 12, 2020}} – James Vincent, The Verge, March 31, 2015</ref> By June 2016, the company's blog reported more than 100 million voice calls per day were being placed on WhatsApp.<ref>{{cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=June 24, 2016 |title=WhatsApp hits 100 million calls per day |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/24/whatsapp-hits-100-million-calls-per-day/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625162117/https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/24/whatsapp-hits-100-million-calls-per-day/ |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |access-date=June 24, 2016 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref>
In November 2016, video calls between two accounts were introduced.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2016/11/15/whatsapp-video-calling-launches/ WhatsApp Is Now Rolling Out Video Calling For iPhone, Android And Windows Phone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612132618/https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2016/11/15/whatsapp-video-calling-launches/|date=June 12, 2020}} – Amit Chowdhry, November 15, 2016</ref>
Later in September 2018, WhatsApp introduced group audio and video call features.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chowdhry |first=Amit |title=WhatsApp's Group Audio And Video Calling Features Arrive On iPhone And Android |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2018/07/31/whatsapp-group-calling/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161731/https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2018/07/31/whatsapp-group-calling/#3373ecfc736e |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |access-date=September 20, 2018 |work=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2018 |title=WhatsApp group video call feature finally rolls out; step by step guide for beginners |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/whatsapp-group-video-call-feature-guide-for-beginners/story/279377.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161112/https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/whatsapp-group-video-call-feature-guide-for-beginners/story/279377.html |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |access-date=September 20, 2018 |website=businesstoday.in}}</ref>
In July 2023, video messages were added to WhatsApp. Similar to voice messages, this feature allows users to record and send short videos directly in a chat. This lets users share videos of themselves more quickly, and without adding anything to their device's gallery. Currently, video messages are limited to 60 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Instant Video Messages |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-instant-video-messages |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821152847/https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-instant-video-messages |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=July 27, 2023 |title=WhatsApp adds a quicker way to send short videos to your friends |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/27/23809857/whatsapp-video-messages-announced-meta |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821152845/https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/27/23809857/whatsapp-video-messages-announced-meta |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
In November 2023, WhatsApp added a "voice chat" feature for groups with more than 32 members. Unlike their 32-person group calls, starting a voice chat does not call all group members directly; they instead receive a notification to join the voice chat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=November 13, 2023 |title=WhatsApp is adding a new way to voice chat with large groups |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/13/23958889/whatsapp-voice-chat-feature-ios-android-32-users |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114021659/https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/13/23958889/whatsapp-voice-chat-feature-ios-android-32-users |archive-date=November 14, 2023 |access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
In December 2023, WhatsApp's "View Once" feature expanded to include voice messages. Voice messages sent this way are deleted after the recipient listens to them the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Voice messages just got more private |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/voice-messages-just-got-more-private |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214173052/https://blog.whatsapp.com/voice-messages-just-got-more-private |archive-date=December 14, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=WhatsApp.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=December 7, 2023 |title=WhatsApp is rolling out self-destructing voice messages |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/7/23992008/whatsapp-view-once-voice-notes-messages-self-destruct-privacy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214173051/https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/7/23992008/whatsapp-view-once-voice-notes-messages-self-destruct-privacy |archive-date=December 14, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
In June 2024, improvements were made to voice and video calls, allowing up to 32 participants in video calls, adding audio to screen sharing, and introducing a new codec to increase call reliability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Jagmeet |date=June 13, 2024 |title=WhatsApp adds new features to the calling experience, including support for 32-person video calls |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/13/whatsapp-add-new-features-to-the-calling-experience-including-support-for-32-person-video-calls/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710132258/https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/13/whatsapp-add-new-features-to-the-calling-experience-including-support-for-32-person-video-calls/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2024, the ability to transcribe voice messages was added, allowing users to read out what was said in a voice message, rather than listening to the audio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Aisha |date=November 21, 2024 |title=WhatsApp rolls out voice message transcripts |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/21/whatsapp-rolls-out-voice-message-transcripts/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=December 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219180535/https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/21/whatsapp-rolls-out-voice-message-transcripts/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In December 2024, WhatsApp introduced several new video calling features, including the ability to select specific participants from a group to make a call, rather than calling all group members. Visual effects also became available, adding visual filters to a user's video feed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=December 13, 2024 |title=WhatsApp lets you select specific people within a group to start a group call without disturbing anyone |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/13/whatsapp-lets-you-select-specific-people-within-a-group-to-start-a-group-call-without-disturbing-anyone/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=December 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213210431/https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/13/whatsapp-lets-you-select-specific-people-within-a-group-to-start-a-group-call-without-disturbing-anyone/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== File sharing === In November 2010, a slate of improvements for the iOS version of WhatsApp were released, including the ability to search for messages in your chat history, trimming long videos to a sendable size, the ability to cancel media messages as they upload or download, and previewing photos before sending them.<ref name="Sending Places and Group Icons">{{Cite web |title=Sending Places and Group Icons |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/sending-places-and-group-icons |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526132750/https://blog.whatsapp.com/sending-places-and-group-icons |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com}}</ref> In March 2012, WhatsApp improved its location-sharing function, allowing users to share not only their location, but also the location of places, such as restaurants or hotels.<ref name="Sending Places and Group Icons" />
In July 2017, WhatsApp added support for file uploads of all file types, with a limit of 100 MB. Previously between March 2016 and May 2017, only limited file types categorised as images (JPG, PNG, GIF), videos (MP4, AVI), and documents (CSV, DOC/DOCX, PDF, PPT/PPTX, RTF, TXT, XLS/XLSX), were allowed to be shared for file attachments.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 2, 2017 |title=WhatsApp Supports All Kinds Of File Formats Now – Online file conversion blog |url=https://blog.online-convert.com/whatsapp-supports-all-kinds-of-file-formats-now/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123055117/https://blog.online-convert.com/whatsapp-supports-all-kinds-of-file-formats-now/ |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |access-date=November 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 22, 2017 |title=WhatsApp is rolling out sharing of all file types! – WABetaInfo |url=https://wabetainfo.com/rolling-out-sharing-all-file-types/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123055118/https://wabetainfo.com/rolling-out-sharing-all-file-types/ |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |access-date=November 23, 2023}}</ref>
In July 2021, WhatsApp announced forthcoming support for sending uncompressed images and videos in 3 options: Auto, Best Quality and Data Saver.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=July 9, 2021 |title=WhatsApp will let you send images and videos in their 'best quality' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/9/22569744/whatsapp-image-video-compression-quality-updates |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719070155/https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/9/22569744/whatsapp-image-video-compression-quality-updates |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |access-date=July 11, 2021 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
In May 2022, the file upload limit was raised from 100 MB to 2 GB, and the maximum group size increased to 512 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2022 |title=WhatsApp gets 2GB file sharing, 512 people groups |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2355558/whatsapp-gets-2gb-file-sharing-512-people-groups |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507175307/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2355558/whatsapp-gets-2gb-file-sharing-512-people-groups |archive-date=May 7, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=The Express Tribune}}</ref>
=== Security and encryption === On November 10, 2016, WhatsApp launched a beta version of two-factor authentication for Android users, which allowed them to use their email addresses for further protection.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 11, 2016 |title=WhatsApp brings Two-step verification for Android 'beta' users: How to enable |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/whatsapp-two-step-verification-for-android-beta-users-how-to-enable-4369792/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111194130/http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/whatsapp-two-step-verification-for-android-beta-users-how-to-enable-4369792/ |archive-date=November 11, 2016 |access-date=November 11, 2016}}</ref> Also in November 2016, Facebook ceased collecting WhatsApp data for advertising in Europe.<ref name="EU-commission-fined-fb" />
In October 2019, WhatsApp officially launched a new fingerprint app-locking feature for Android users.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2019 |title=WhatsApp Brings Fingerprint Lock Feature to Android, Months After iPhone |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-fingerprint-lock-android-ios-iphone-user-privacy-2125391 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210212609/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-fingerprint-lock-android-ios-iphone-user-privacy-2125391 |archive-date=December 10, 2019 |access-date=September 16, 2020 |website=NDTV Gadgets 360}}</ref>
In July 2021, WhatsApp announced forthcoming support for end-to-end encryption for backups stored in Facebook's cloud.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=July 16, 2021 |title=WhatsApp tests encrypted cloud backups on Android |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/16/22580800/icloud-google-drive-encrypted-whatsapp-cloud-backup |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717012327/http://www.theverge.com/2021/7/16/22580800/icloud-google-drive-encrypted-whatsapp-cloud-backup |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2021 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
In August 2021, WhatsApp launched a feature that allows chat history to be transferred between mobile operating systems. This was implemented only on Samsung phones, with plans to expand to Android and iOS "soon".<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 11, 2021 |title=WhatsApp gains the ability to transfer chat history between mobile operating systems |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/whatsapp-gains-the-ability-to-transfer-chat-history-between-mobile-operating-systems/ |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=August 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811230028/https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/whatsapp-gains-the-ability-to-transfer-chat-history-between-mobile-operating-systems/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In October 2023 they also introduced passkey support, where a user can verify their login with on-device biometrics, rather than SMS.<ref name=":10" /> In November 2023, WhatsApp also began rolling out support for sending login codes to a linked email address, rather than via SMS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=WABetaInfo |date=November 21, 2023 |title=WhatsApp for iOS 23.24.70: what's new? |url=https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-for-ios-23-24-70-whats-new/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121235754/https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-for-ios-23-24-70-whats-new/ |archive-date=November 21, 2023 |access-date=November 22, 2023 |website=WABetaInfo}}</ref> In a later update on November 30, WhatsApp added a Secret Code feature, which allows those who use locked chats to enter a unique password that hides those chats from view when unlocking the app.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Secret Code for Chat Lock |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-secret-code-for-chat-lock |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201000527/https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-secret-code-for-chat-lock |archive-date=December 1, 2023 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=November 30, 2023 |title=WhatsApp now lets you hide your locked chats behind a secret code |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/30/23982403/whatsapp-secret-code-hide-locked-chats |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130202628/https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/30/23982403/whatsapp-secret-code-hide-locked-chats |archive-date=November 30, 2023 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
On 11 March 2026, WhatsApp launched parent-managed accounts for pre-teens, restricted to messaging and calling, due to safety concerns about the impact of social media and chat apps on children. These chats will remain private and protected with end-to-end encryption.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp launches parent-managed accounts for pre-teens amid safety concerns |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/whatsapp-meta-parent-managed-accounts-pre-teen-safety-concerns-5987191 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref>
=== Linked and multi-device support === In January 2015, WhatsApp launched a web client that allowed users to scan a QR code with their mobile app, mirroring their chats to their browser. The web client was not standalone, and required the user's phone to stay on and connected to the internet. It was also not available for iOS users on launch, due to limitations from Apple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandom |first=Russell |date=January 21, 2015 |title=WhatsApp launches a web client for Chrome and Android |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/21/7867529/whatsapp-is-coming-to-the-web |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=The Verge |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526132754/https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/21/7867529/whatsapp-is-coming-to-the-web |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp Web |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/whats-app-web |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526053252/https://blog.whatsapp.com/whats-app-web |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then, linked devices support has expanded and more information is written in the Platform Support part of this article.
In July 2021 the company was also testing multi-device support, allowing computer users to run WhatsApp without an active phone session.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=July 14, 2021 |title=WhatsApp multi-device beta allows four devices at once even without a phone |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/14/22577594/whatsapp-multi-device-e2e-facebook |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217150209/https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/14/22577594/whatsapp-multi-device-e2e-facebook |archive-date=December 17, 2021 |access-date=July 18, 2021 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
In April 2023, the app rolled out a feature that would allow account access across multiple phones, in a shift that would make it more like competitors. Messages would still be end-to-end encrypted.<ref>{{Cite news |title=WhatsApp just added this long-requested feature |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/25/whatsapp-multiple-phones/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427114704/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/25/whatsapp-multiple-phones/ |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |access-date=April 28, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> WhatsApp officially rolled out the Companion mode for Android users, allowing linking up to five Android phones to a single account. Now, the feature is also made available to iOS users, allowing them to link up to four iPhones.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2023 |title=WhatsApp rolls out Companion mode for iOS, you can link up to four iPhones |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_rolls_out_companion_mode_for_ios_you_can_link_up_to_4_iphones-news-58722.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606163022/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_rolls_out_companion_mode_for_ios_you_can_link_up_to_4_iphones-news-58722.php |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=gsmarena.com}}</ref>
In October 2023, support for logging in to multiple (meaning two<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pandey |first1=Rajesh |date=19 October 2023 |title=WhatsApp's long overdue multi-account support finally goes live |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapps-long-overdue-multi-account-support-finally-goes-live/ |access-date=15 September 2025 |website=Android Police |archive-date=July 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723224056/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapps-long-overdue-multi-account-support-finally-goes-live/ |url-status=live }}</ref>) accounts was added, allowing users to switch between different WhatsApp accounts in the same app.
=== Stickers and avatars === On October 25, 2018, WhatsApp announced support for Stickers. Unlike other platforms, WhatsApp requires third-party apps to add Stickers to WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2018 |title=Introducing Stickers |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-stickers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611222555/https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-stickers |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |access-date=June 22, 2020}}</ref>
In March 2021, WhatsApp started rolling out support for third-party animated stickers, initially in Iran, Brazil and Indonesia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2021 |title=Rolling out possibility to import animated sticker packs |url=https://github.com/WhatsApp/stickers/wiki/Animated-Stickers/520afc928cc0b1a5f7609ad7e6b30fe954825339 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408194354/https://github.com/WhatsApp/stickers/wiki/Animated-Stickers/520afc928cc0b1a5f7609ad7e6b30fe954825339 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |access-date=March 26, 2020 |website=GitHub}}</ref> then worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2, 2021 |title=Animated stickers enabled worldwide |url=https://github.com/WhatsApp/stickers/wiki/Animated-Stickers/2479ea37e92b1af27292d4d57e470fa42f8d659d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408213557/https://github.com/WhatsApp/stickers/wiki/Animated-Stickers/2479ea37e92b1af27292d4d57e470fa42f8d659d |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |access-date=March 26, 2020 |publisher=GitHub}}</ref>
In December 2022, WhatsApp launched 3D digital avatars. Users are able to use an avatar as their profile picture or use it for stickers during instant messaging, similar to those offered by Bitmoji or Memoji.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Jagmeet |date=2022-12-07 |title=WhatsApp starts rolling out 3D avatars |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/07/whatsapp-avatars-rollout/ |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=November 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251126034015/https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/07/whatsapp-avatars-rollout/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Communities and Channels === In April 2022, WhatsApp announced undated plans to roll out a Communities feature allowing several group chats to exist in a shared space, getting unified notifications and opening up smaller discussion groups. The company also announced plans to implement reactions, the ability for administrators to delete messages in groups and voice calls up to 32 participants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adorno |first=José |date=April 14, 2022 |title=WhatsApp announces long-awaited Reactions and Community features |url=https://9to5mac.com/2022/04/14/whatsapp-announces-long-awaited-reactions-and-community-features/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415233559/https://9to5mac.com/2022/04/14/whatsapp-announces-long-awaited-reactions-and-community-features/ |archive-date=April 15, 2022 |access-date=April 16, 2022 |website=9to5Mac}}</ref>
In June 2023, a feature called WhatsApp Channels was launched which allows content creators, public figures and organizations to send newsletter-like broadcasts to large numbers of users. Unlike messages in groups or private chats, channels are not end-to-end encrypted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=David |date=June 8, 2023 |title=WhatsApp's new Channels feature brings social media to your messaging app |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/8/23753404/whatsapp-channels-broadcasts-app |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609000911/https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/8/23753404/whatsapp-channels-broadcasts-app |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Channels were initially only available to users in Colombia and Singapore, then later Egypt, Chile, Malaysia, Morocco, Ukraine, Kenya and Peru before becoming widely available in September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=June 8, 2023 |title=WhatsApp launches Channels feature for broadcast messages |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/08/whatsapp-launches-channels-feature-for-broadcast-messages/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608070255/https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/08/whatsapp-launches-channels-feature-for-broadcast-messages/ |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Meta introduces broadcast tool Channels on WhatsApp |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-introduces-broadcast-tool-channels-whatsapp-2023-06-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608073812/https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-introduces-broadcast-tool-channels-whatsapp-2023-06-08/ |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Chandraveer |date=September 13, 2023 |title=WhatsApp Channels are ready for prime time |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-channels-ready-prime-time-rolling-out-worldwide/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230916093617/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-channels-ready-prime-time-rolling-out-worldwide/ |archive-date=September 16, 2023 |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Android Police}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Arol |date=July 25, 2023 |title=WhatsApp Channels slowly begins its international spread |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-channels-international-spread/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913040435/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-channels-international-spread/ |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Android Police}}</ref>
=== Artificial intelligence === In April 2024, an AI-powered "Smart Assistant" called Meta AI became widely available in WhatsApp, allowing users to ask it questions or have it complete tasks such as generating images. The assistant is based on the LLaMa 4 (previously LLaMa 3) model, and is also available on other Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Chethan |date=April 13, 2024 |title=WhatsApp's Meta AI experiment is now live for more users |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-meta-ai-search-bar-widely-available/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413191648/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-meta-ai-search-bar-widely-available/ |archive-date=April 13, 2024 |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Android Police}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Isaac |first1=Mike |last2=Metz |first2=Cade |date=April 18, 2024 |title=Meta, in Its Biggest A.I. Push, Places Smart Assistants Across Its Apps |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/technology/meta-ai-assistant-push.html |access-date=2024-05-03 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502212421/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/technology/meta-ai-assistant-push.html |url-status=live }}</ref> WhatsApp also introduced chat filters, allowing users to sort their chats by ''All'', ''Unread'' or ''Groups''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Forristal |first=Lauren |date=October 31, 2024 |title=WhatsApp users can now filter chats with customized lists |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/whatsapp-users-can-now-filter-chats-with-customized-lists/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=November 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107013832/https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/whatsapp-users-can-now-filter-chats-with-customized-lists/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In September 2024, WhatsApp expanded support for Meta AI, allowing users to send text and photos to Meta AI to ask questions, identify objects, translate text or edit pictures.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />
In December 2024, WhatsApp introduced a reverse image search feature, allowing users to verify image authenticity directly within the app using Google Search.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Livemint |date=December 29, 2024 |title=WhatsApp Web may soon let users reverse search images from Google: Here's how it works {{!}} Mint |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/whatsapp-web-to-soon-get-reverse-image-search-feature-heres-how-it-will-work-update-meta-11735436151682.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229064734/https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/whatsapp-web-to-soon-get-reverse-image-search-feature-heres-how-it-will-work-update-meta-11735436151682.html |archive-date=December 29, 2024 |access-date=2024-12-30 |work=mint}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chauhan |first=Vivek Singh |date=December 30, 2024 |title=Identify fake pictures on WhatsApp using Google: new feature spotted in beta |url=https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/identify-fake-pictures-whatsapp-google-reverse-image-search-beta/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230105553/https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/identify-fake-pictures-whatsapp-google-reverse-image-search-beta/ |archive-date=December 30, 2024 |access-date=2024-12-30}}</ref>
=== Parent-managed accounts === In March 2026, WhatsApp introduced parent-managed accounts, a feature designed to give parents more oversight of their children's activity on the platform. The system allows parents to monitor contacts, review group participation, and manage certain privacy settings through parental controls. The feature is intended to provide additional supervision options for younger users using the app.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp launches parent-managed accounts {{!}} Social Media Today |url=https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/whatsapp-launches-parent-managed-accounts/814504/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=www.socialmediatoday.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
===About=== {{Update|section|date=December 2025|reason=Feature was released}} In November 2025, WhatsApp announced that they would update their About feature, which allows users to add a short message to explain what they are doing. By default, it is set to disappear in 24 hours, but it can be set for a longer amount of time and can be restricted for viewing by other contacts in the Settings menu.<ref name=engadgetabout/><ref name=independentabout/> According to WhatsApp, this update was made for the incoming Christmas period for users to inform their contacts on their activities during the holidays.<ref name=independentabout>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/whatsapp-update-about-new-feature-b2869317.html|title=WhatsApp relaunches its first ever feature|date=November 20, 2025|access-date=November 21, 2025|website=The Independent|last=Griffin|first=Andrew}}</ref> Prior to the update, the feature was "largely hidden within the apps menus" and difficult to find, with the reason for updating being that WhatsApp wanted the feature to be used more often.<ref name=independentabout/> Engadget called the revamped feature "WhatsApp’s version of an AIM away message" and likened it to Instagram's and Facebook's Notes.<ref name=engadgetabout>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-is-bringing-back-its-very-first-feature-170100513.html|title=WhatsApp is bringing back its very first feature|date=November 20, 2025|access-date=November 21, 2025|website=Engadget|last=Holt|first=Kris|archive-date=November 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251121172614/https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-is-bringing-back-its-very-first-feature-170100513.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Platform support == Currently, WhatsApp's principal platforms, which are fully supported, are devices supporting mobile telephony running Android, and iPhones.<ref name="iphone" /> As of 2025, the software requires at least Android version 5.0 or iOS version 15.1 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About supported operating systems {{!}} WhatsApp Help Center |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1150261202542208/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250901102219/https://faq.whatsapp.com/1150261202542208/ |archive-date=September 1, 2025 |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=faq.whatsapp.com |url-status=live }}</ref> This table details platform support history. {| class="wikitable" |+ !Platform !Launch <small>(inc. beta)</small> !Status |- |iPhone (iOS) |May 2009 |{{yes|{{Collapsible list|title={{Nobold|Active}}|Support for iOS 6 dropped on December 31, 2017. <br> Support for iOS 7 ended on February 1, 2020.<ref name="blog.whatsapp.com">{{Cite web |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/whats-app-support-for-mobile-devices?lang=en |title=Archived copy |access-date=November 2, 2025 |archive-date=November 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251130062926/https://blog.whatsapp.com/whats-app-support-for-mobile-devices?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref> <br> Support for iOS 11 ended on October 24, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.idownloadblog.com/2022/05/23/whatsapp-device-requirements-ios-update/|title=WhatsApp will soon require all users to be running at least iOS 12|website=iDownloadBlog}}</ref> <br> Support for iOS 14 ended on May 5, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Alex Blake |date=2024-12-03 |title=Got an older iPhone? WhatsApp won't work on it for much longer |url=https://www.techradar.com/phones/got-an-older-iphone-whatsapp-wont-work-on-it-for-much-longer |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=TechRadar |archive-date=November 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251125185055/https://www.techradar.com/phones/got-an-older-iphone-whatsapp-wont-work-on-it-for-much-longer |url-status=live }}</ref>}}}} |- |BlackBerry (BlackBerry OS) |June 2009<ref>{{Cite web |title=BlackBerry App World - WhatsApp |url=http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/2360/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829224744/http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/2360/ |archive-date=2009-08-29 |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=appworld.blackberry.com}}</ref> |{{dropped|Discontinued: December 31, 2017<ref name="crackberry.com">{{cite web | title=WhatsApp will no longer support BBOS or BlackBerry 10 as of Dec. 31 | date=December 27, 2017 | url=https://crackberry.com/reminder-whatsapp-will-no-longer-support-bbos-or-blackberry-10-december-31 | access-date=November 2, 2025 | archive-date=December 6, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251206114443/https://crackberry.com/reminder-whatsapp-will-no-longer-support-bbos-or-blackberry-10-december-31 | url-status=live }}</ref>}} |- |Symbian OS/Nokia S60 |July 2010<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Breaking the radio silence |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/breaking-the-radio-silence?lang=kk |website=Whatsapp}}</ref> |{{dropped|Discontinued: June 30, 2017}}<ref name="blog.whatsapp.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nokiapoweruser.com/whatsapp-extends-nokia-s40-blackberry-support-till-end-2017-drops-symbian-support/|title=WhatsApp extends Nokia S40, BlackBerry support till end of 2017, drops Symbian support|date=June 16, 2017|website=Nokiapoweruser|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801094246/https://nokiapoweruser.com/whatsapp-extends-nokia-s40-blackberry-support-till-end-2017-drops-symbian-support/|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |Android |September 2010<ref name=":9" /> |{{yes|{{Collapsible list|title={{Nobold|Active}}|Support for Android 2.1 and 2.2 ended on December 31, 2016. <br> Support for Android 2.3.7 ended on February 1, 2020.<ref name="blog.whatsapp.com"/> <br> Support for Android 4.4 ended on January 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web | title=WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025 | url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php | access-date=November 2, 2025 | archive-date=November 11, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111061708/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php | url-status=live }}</ref>}}}} |- |Nokia Series 40 |July 2011<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/nokia-s40?lang=el |title=Nokia S40 |access-date=November 3, 2025 |archive-date=December 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251203141623/https://blog.whatsapp.com/nokia-s40?lang=el |url-status=live |date=July 12, 2011}}</ref> |{{dropped|Discontinued: December 31, 2018}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/android/26000006/|title=WhatsApp FAQ – Support for older operating systems|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=August 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803225338/https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/android/26000006/|archive-date=August 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Windows Phone<br/>/Windows 10 Mobile |September 2011<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2011 |title=Windows Phone = SIX |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/windows-phone-six?lang=nb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251126010008/https://blog.whatsapp.com/windows-phone-six?lang=nb |archive-date=November 26, 2025 |access-date=November 3, 2025}}</ref> |{{dropped|{{Collapsible list|title={{Nobold|Discontinued: December 31, 2019<ref>{{cite web | title=WhatsApp ends support for Windows Phone and older versions of Android | date=December 30, 2019 | url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-30-whatsapp-ending-windows-phone-support.html | access-date=November 2, 2025 | archive-date=November 26, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251126073955/https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-30-whatsapp-ending-windows-phone-support.html | url-status=live }}</ref>}}|Support for Windows Phone 7 ended December 31, 2016.<ref name="blog.whatsapp.com"/> <br> Windows Phone 8.0 and under ended December 31, 2017.<ref name=VentureBeat>{{Cite web |last=Protalinski | first=Emil | title=WhatsApp will drop BlackBerry OS and Windows Phone support on December 31|date=December 26, 2017 | url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/whatsapp-will-drop-blackberry-os-and-windows-phone-support-on-december-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218002839/https://venturebeat.com/ai/whatsapp-will-drop-blackberry-os-and-windows-phone-support-on-december-31 | archive-date=February 18, 2026}}</ref>}}}} |- |BlackBerry (BlackBerry 10) |March 2013<ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2015 |title=WhatsApp messenger for BlackBerry – Free Download |url=http://blog.getspool.com/145/download-free-whatsapp-messenger-blackberry/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625053511/http://blog.getspool.com/145/download-free-whatsapp-messenger-blackberry/ |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |work=GetSpool – Jailbreak Tweaks, iOS News}}</ref> |{{dropped|Discontinued: December 31, 2017<ref name="crackberry.com"/>}} |- |Tizen |April 2015<ref>{{cite web |author=Ash |date=April 9, 2015 |title=[Application] NEW Native WhatsApp clients hits the Tizen Store, Goodbye ACL WhatsApp Messenger |url=http://www.tizenexperts.com/2015/04/application-new-native-whatsapp-clients-hits-the-tizen-store-goodbye-acl-whatsapp-messenger/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009163325/http://www.tizenexperts.com/2015/04/application-new-native-whatsapp-clients-hits-the-tizen-store-goodbye-acl-whatsapp-messenger/ |archive-date=October 9, 2015 |access-date=October 21, 2015 |work=Tizen Experts}}</ref> |{{dropped|Discontinued: October 1, 2020<ref>{{cite web | title=Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp app limitations on Tizen phones | website=Facebook Help Center | url=https://www.facebook.com/help/278711573496062 | access-date=November 5, 2025 | archive-date=October 4, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004152045/https://www.facebook.com/help/278711573496062 | url-status=live }}</ref>}} |- |KaiOS |September 2018<ref>{{cite web |date=July 5, 2018 |title=*Update* KaiOS officially getting Whatsapp |url=http://nokiamob.net/2018/07/05/kaios-officially-getting-whatsapp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194854/http://nokiamob.net/2018/07/05/kaios-officially-getting-whatsapp/ |archive-date=August 3, 2018 |access-date=August 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Snelling |first=David |date=July 11, 2018 |title=The WhatsApp news we have been waiting for will transform these popular phones |url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/986492/WhatsApp-update-Nokia-8810-download |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803223845/https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/986492/WhatsApp-update-Nokia-8810-download |archive-date=August 3, 2018 |access-date=August 3, 2018}}</ref> |{{dropped|Discontinued: February 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reinhardt |first=André |date=2025-01-29 |title=WhatsApp: iOS 15 support & KaiOS will end |url=https://www.teltarif.de/en/whatsapp-ios-15-kaios-support-ende/news/97694.html |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=teltarif.de |archive-date=November 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251125032947/https://www.teltarif.de/en/whatsapp-ios-15-kaios-support-ende/news/97694.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |}
===Linked devices=== ''Linked devices'' are secondary devices running the WhatsApp messenger software. They link to and sync with WhatsApp actively running on a supported primary phone. Up to four linked devices can be added per user account. Linked devices automatically log out after 14 days of inactivity on the primary phone.<ref name=":7" /> Linked devices allow the service to be used on multiple other platforms like desktop computers and smartwatches (e.g. WhatsApp Web, Facebook Portal), but also on other smartphones (called ''companions'').<ref name=":7" />
Originally it was required for the primary phone to keep an online connection to WhatsApp for linked devices to work, but now WhatsApp can run on linked devices without such requirement. This ability (named multi-device support) began testing in July 2021 and rolled out to all users in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=2023-04-25 |title=WhatsApp's multi-device feature now supports more than one phone |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/25/whatsapp-is-rolling-out-multi-device-support/ |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=November 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251126130107/https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/25/whatsapp-is-rolling-out-multi-device-support/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==== WhatsApp Web ==== WhatsApp was officially made available for PCs through a web client, under the name WhatsApp Web,<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Woods|title=WhatsApp finally launches on the Web|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/01/21/whatsapp-finally-launches-web/|access-date=March 16, 2021|work=The Next Web|date=January 21, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304041242/http://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/01/21/whatsapp-finally-launches-web/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WhatsApp Web 2015" /> released on January 21, 2015. WhatsApp Web is accessed through web.WhatsApp.com and access is granted after the user scans their personal QR code through their mobile WhatsApp client. The desktop version was first only available to Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone users. Later on, it also added support for iOS, Nokia Series 40, and Nokia S60 (Symbian).<ref>{{cite news|first=Kashmira|last=Gander|title=WhatsApp web: messaging client now available on internet browsers|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-now-available-on-web-browsers-9993675.html|access-date=January 23, 2015|work=The Independent|date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122121804/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-now-available-on-web-browsers-9993675.html|archive-date=January 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tweedie|first=Steven|title=WhatsApp Is Now Accessible On The Web, But iPhone Users Are Out Of Luck|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-set-up-whatsapp-web-browser-version-2015-1|website=Business Insider|access-date=February 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204080223/http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-set-up-whatsapp-web-browser-version-2015-1|archive-date=February 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
Previously the WhatsApp user's handset had to be connected to the Internet for the browser application to function but as of an update in October 2021 (and integrated by default in WhatsApp as of April 2022) that is no longer the case.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp Help Center – About linked devices|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-linked-devices/?lang=en|access-date=November 5, 2021|website=whatsapp.com|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105062357/https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-linked-devices/?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> When this multi-device feature was first introduced to Android and iOS users,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-multi-device-beta/?lang=en|title=WhatsApp Help Center – About multi-device beta|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205103716/https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-multi-device-beta/?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-messenger-beta-for-ios-2-21-60-11-whats-new/ |title=WhatsApp Messenger beta for iOS 2.21.60.11: what's new? |date=March 19, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109122314/https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-messenger-beta-for-ios-2-21-60-11-whats-new/ |url-status=live }}</ref> it could only show messages for the last three months on the Web version, because the Web version was syncing with the phone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beebom.com/how-use-whatsapp-multiple-devices/|title=How to Use WhatsApp on Multiple Devices|date=July 16, 2021|access-date=October 10, 2021|archive-date=June 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606001230/https://beebom.com/how-use-whatsapp-multiple-devices/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the complete roll out of this feature, users cannot check old messages before this period on the Web version anymore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/web/chats/about-message-history-on-linked-devices/?lang=en|title=WhatsApp Help Center – About message history on linked devices|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=April 23, 2022|archive-date=July 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702003556/https://faq.whatsapp.com/web/chats/about-message-history-on-linked-devices?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Archive link showing the end of beta in April 2022 with a redirect in the FAQ page: {{cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-multi-device-beta/|title=About linked devices|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405090019/https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-multi-device-beta/ |archive-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref>
There are similar unofficial WhatsApp solutions for macOS, such as the open-source ''ChitChat'',<!-- do not link to ChitChat, that is a different app --> previously known as ''WhatsMac''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/stonesam92/ChitChat/|title=Chit Chat A Mac app wrapper around WhatsApp's web client|author=((stonesam92))|date=October 2, 2018|website=GitHub|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726035049/https://github.com/stonesam92/ChitChat|archive-date=July 26, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://osxdaily.com/2015/05/25/whatsapp-for-mac-whatsmac-app/|title=WhatsApp for Mac|date=May 25, 2015|website=OSXDaily|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411184504/http://osxdaily.com/2015/05/25/whatsapp-for-mac-whatsmac-app/|archive-date=April 11, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/54316/chitchat|title=ChitChat for Mac|date=October 5, 2015|website=MacUpdate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018160325/https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/54316/chitchat|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Windows and Mac ==== On May 10, 2016, the messenger was introduced for both Microsoft Windows and macOS operating systems. Support for video and voice calls from desktop clients was later added. Similar to the WhatsApp Web format, the app, which synchronises with a user's mobile device, is available for download on the website. It supported operating systems Windows 8 and OS X 10.10 and higher.<ref name="WAWOS" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2016/05/11/whatsapp-desktop-app-windows-mac/|title=WhatsApp now has an official desktop app for Windows and Mac|last=Swanner|first=Nate|date=May 11, 2016|website=The Next Web|access-date=May 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511005125/http://thenextweb.com/apps/2016/05/11/whatsapp-desktop-app-windows-mac/|archive-date=May 11, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2023, WhatsApp replaced the Electron-based apps with native versions for their respective platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faster speeds and improved calling for WhatsApp Desktop |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/faster-speeds-and-improved-calling-for-whatsapp-desktop |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com |archive-date=November 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111235620/https://blog.whatsapp.com/faster-speeds-and-improved-calling-for-whatsapp-desktop |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New WhatsApp app for Mac; now with group calling |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/new-whatsapp-app-for-mac-now-with-group-calling |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com |archive-date=November 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111234114/https://blog.whatsapp.com/new-whatsapp-app-for-mac-now-with-group-calling |url-status=live }}</ref> The Windows version is based on UWP while the Mac version is a port of the iOS version using Catalyst technology.
In July 2025, WhatsApp stopped developing the Windows UWP-based app due to poor support and deprecation of the UWP framework by Microsoft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp is dropping its native Windows app in favor of an uglier web version |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/710509/whatsapp-windows-app-web-wrapper-changes |access-date=July 21, 2025 |website=The Verge |date=July 21, 2025 |archive-date=July 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250721095231/https://www.theverge.com/news/710509/whatsapp-windows-app-web-wrapper-changes |url-status=live }}</ref> WhatsApp for Windows transitioned over to the Microsoft Edge WebView2 framework, marking a return to utilising a web-based framework (just like Electron previously) instead of a native framework. The WebView2-based app has been criticised for its sluggish performance, high RAM usage, and requirement to keep the app running in the background to receive push notifications, compared to the previous native version.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/11/22/i-tested-the-new-whatsapp-for-windows-11-a-web-wrapper-and-its-a-performance-nightmare/|title=I tested the new WhatsApp for Windows 11 (a web wrapper) and it's a performance nightmare|website=Windows Latest|date=November 22, 2025|access-date=December 5, 2025|archive-date=December 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251206151440/https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/11/22/i-tested-the-new-whatsapp-for-windows-11-a-web-wrapper-and-its-a-performance-nightmare/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== iPad ==== WhatsApp has been officially supported for iPads and its iPadOS since May 27, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |date=2025-05-27 |title=It's here! Introducing WhatsApp for iPad |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/its-here-introducing-whatsapp-for-ipad |website=whatsapp.com |access-date=May 29, 2025 |archive-date=May 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250528050323/https://blog.whatsapp.com/its-here-introducing-whatsapp-for-ipad |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly to WhatsApp for web, Windows, Mac, and smartwatches, the iPad is a type of ''linked device'' that connects and syncs to WhatsApp running on a smartphone.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=À propos des appareils connectés {{!}} Pages d'aide WhatsApp |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/378279804439436/?cms_platform=android |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618230338/https://faq.whatsapp.com/378279804439436/?cms_platform=android |archive-date=June 18, 2025 |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=faq.whatsapp.com |language=fr |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How to get WhatsApp on your iPad |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/668638/how-to-get-whatsapp-on-ipad.html |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=Macworld |archive-date=December 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218142339/https://www.macworld.com/article/668638/how-to-get-whatsapp-on-ipad.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==== Smartwatches ==== WhatsApp added support for Android Wear (now called Wear OS) in 2014<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last=Page |first=Carly |date=August 5, 2014 |title=Whatsapp update adds support for Android Wear smartwatches |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2358851/whatsapp-update-adds-support-for-android-wear-smartwatches |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811045417/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2358851/whatsapp-update-adds-support-for-android-wear-smartwatches |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |work=The Inquirer}}</ref> and for the Apple Watch in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 4, 2025 |title=Introducing WhatsApp for Apple Watch |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-whatsapp-for-apple-watch |work=whatsapp.com |access-date=January 22, 2026 |archive-date=January 22, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260122124213/https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-whatsapp-for-apple-watch |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Technical == WhatsApp uses a customized version of the open standard Extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP).<ref>{{cite web|place=Germany|author=Shakal|url=http://shakal.blog.de/2011/03/22/whatsapp-risiken-10872342/|title=WhatsApp? Nicht ohne Risiken|trans-title=WhatsApp? Not without risks|date=March 22, 2011|access-date=January 29, 2013|type=World Wide Web log|language=de|format=Google Translate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626111834/http://shakal.blog.de/2011/03/22/whatsapp-risiken-10872342/|archive-date=June 26, 2015|url-status=dead}}.</ref> A 2019 document released by the DOJ confirms this by naming "FunXMPP" as the protocol used by WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |title=whatsapp-opposition-to-nso-motion-for-summary-judgment_-unsealed-1.pdf |url=https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25293501/whatsapp-opposition-to-nso-motion-for-summary-judgment_-unsealed-1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204173131/https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25293501/whatsapp-opposition-to-nso-motion-for-summary-judgment_-unsealed-1.pdf |archive-date=December 4, 2024 }}</ref> The document was part of a lawsuit by WhatsApp and Meta against the NSO Group for their Pegasus malware.<ref>{{Cite web |title=gov.uscourts.cand.350613.1.0_8.pdf |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.350613/gov.uscourts.cand.350613.1.0_8.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125065711/https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.350613/gov.uscourts.cand.350613.1.0_8.pdf |archive-date=January 25, 2025 }}</ref> Upon installation, it creates a user account using the user's phone number as the username (Jabber ID: <code>[phone number]@s.whatsapp.net</code>).
WhatsApp automatically compares all the phone numbers from the device's address book with its central database of WhatsApp users to automatically add contacts to the user's WhatsApp contact list. Previously the Android and Nokia Series 40 versions used an MD5-hashed, reversed-version of the phone's IMEI as a password,<ref name="GitHub venomous0x">{{cite web|url=https://github.com/venomous0x/WhatsAPI|title=Interface to WhatsApp Messenger|author=Team Venomous|date=September 29, 2018|publisher=GitHub|type=blog|access-date=January 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526120342/https://github.com/venomous0x/WhatsAPI|archive-date=May 26, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> while the iOS version used the phone's Wi-Fi MAC address instead of the IMEI.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ezioamodio.it/?p=29|title=Whatsapp – iOS password generation|last=Amodio|first=Ezio|date=September 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129050300/http://www.ezioamodio.it/?p=29|archive-date=January 29, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=January 29, 2013|place=Italy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://samgranger.com/whatsapp-is-using-imei-numbers-as-passwords/|title=WhatsApp is using IMEI numbers as passwords|last=Granger|first=Sam|date=September 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911002603/http://samgranger.com/whatsapp-is-using-imei-numbers-as-passwords/|archive-date=September 11, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> A 2012 update implemented generation of a random password on the server side.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wassapp login issues|url=http://lowlevel-studios.com/wassapp-login-issues|publisher=Lowlevel Studios|type=blog|quote=Wassapp is a PC application developed to be a non-official client for WhatsApp Messenger|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220094529/http://lowlevel-studios.com/wassapp-login-issues|archive-date=December 20, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Alternatively a user can also contact any other WhatsApp user through the URL <code><nowiki>https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=[phone number]</nowiki></code> where <code>[phone number]</code> is the number of the contact including the country code.
Some devices using dual SIMs may not be compatible with WhatsApp, though there are unofficial workarounds to install the app.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kelechi|last=Emenike |place=NG |title=Download WhatsApp on non-compatible Dual-SIM Phones|url=http://echo.com.ng/2013/howto-download-whatsapp-dual-sim-nokia-phones/|publisher=ECHO|type=blog |date=September 16, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026045419/http://echo.com.ng/2013/howto-download-whatsapp-dual-sim-nokia-phones/ |archive-date=October 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In February 2015, WhatsApp implemented voice calling, which helped WhatsApp to attract a different segment of the user population.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chowdhry|first=Amit|title=WhatsApp For iOS Will Receive Voice Calling Feature In A Few Weeks|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2015/03/26/whatsapp-calling-ios/|website=Forbes|access-date=October 9, 2017|date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009145427/https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2015/03/26/whatsapp-calling-ios/#2e779d5321fe|archive-date=October 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Perez|first=Sarah|title=WhatsApp Voice-Calling Feature Spotted In The Wild|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/02/whatsapp-voice-calling-feature-spotted-in-the-wild/|website=TechCrunch|access-date=October 9, 2017|date=February 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019041954/https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/02/whatsapp-voice-calling-feature-spotted-in-the-wild/|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp's voice codec is Opus,<ref name="Register">{{cite news |last=Leyden |first=John |title=WhatsApp laid bare: Info-sucking app's innards probed |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/27/whatsapp_forensic_analysis/ |access-date=October 19, 2019 |work=The Register |date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019111806/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/27/whatsapp_forensic_analysis/ |archive-date=October 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hazra">{{cite book |last1=Hazra |first1=Sudip |last2=Mateti |first2=Prabhaker |chapter=Challenges in Android Forensics |editor-last1=Thampi |editor-first1=Sabu M. |editor-last2=Pérez |editor-first2=Gregorio Martínez |editor-last3=Westphall |editor-first3=Carlos Becker |editor-last4=Hu |editor-first4=Jiankun |editor-last5=Fan |editor-first5=Chun I. |editor-last6=Mármol |editor-first6=Félix Gómez |title=Security in Computing and Communications: 5th International Symposium, SSCC 2017 |date=September 13–16, 2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9789811068980 |pages=286–299 (290) |doi=10.1007/978-981-10-6898-0_24 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1u09DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA290 |issn=1865-0929 }}</ref><ref name="Srivastava">{{cite book |last1=Srivastava |first1=Saurabh Ranjan |last2=Dube |first2=Sachin |last3=Shrivastaya |first3=Gulshan |last4=Sharma |first4=Kavita |chapter=Smartphone Triggered Security Challenges: Issues, Case Studies and Prevention |editor-last1=Le |editor-first1=Dac-Nhuong |editor-last2=Kumar |editor-first2=Raghvendra |editor-last3=Mishra |editor-first3=Brojo Kishore |editor-last4=Chatterjee |editor-first4=Jyotir Moy |editor-last5=Khari |editor-first5=Manju |title=Cyber Security in Parallel and Distributed Computing: Concepts, Techniques, Applications and Case Studies |date=2019 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9781119488057 |pages=187–206 (200) |doi=10.1002/9781119488330.ch12 |s2cid=214034702 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzGtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA200 |access-date=October 19, 2019 |archive-date=December 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226155817/https://books.google.com/books?id=FzGtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA200#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> which uses the modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) and linear predictive coding (LPC) audio compression algorithms.<ref>{{cite conference |last1=Valin |first1=Jean-Marc |last2=Maxwell |first2=Gregory |last3=Terriberry |first3=Timothy B. |last4=Vos |first4=Koen |title=High-Quality, Low-Delay Music Coding in the Opus Codec |conference=135th AES Convention |publisher=Audio Engineering Society |date=October 2013 |arxiv=1602.04845}}</ref> WhatsApp uses Opus at 8{{ndash}}16 kHz sampling rates.<ref name="Register" /><ref name="Srivastava" /> On November 14, 2016, WhatsApp added video calling for users using Android, iPhone, and Windows Phone devices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whatsapp Video Calling|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000629/WhatsApp-Video-Calling?l=en|type=blog|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118172200/https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000629/WhatsApp-Video-Calling?l=en|archive-date=November 18, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Whatsapp Video Calling|journal=The Economic Times|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/whatsapp-rolls-out-video-calling-from-its-biggest-market-india/articleshow/55431148.cms|type=News|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=November 18, 2016|last=Alawadhi|first=Neha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119000540/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/whatsapp-rolls-out-video-calling-from-its-biggest-market-india/articleshow/55431148.cms|archive-date=November 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
In November 2017, WhatsApp implemented a feature giving users seven minutes to delete messages sent by mistake.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/whatsapp-delete-messages-sent-by-mistake/|title=WhatsApp Now Lets You Delete Messages Sent by Mistake|date=November 1, 2017|work=Smatt Geeks Media|access-date=March 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308232538/https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/whatsapp-delete-messages-sent-by-mistake/|archive-date=March 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Multimedia messages are sent by uploading the image, audio or video to be sent to an HTTP server and then sending a link to the content along with its Base64 encoded thumbnail, if applicable.<ref>{{cite web|author=Team Venomous|title=WhatsAPI / README.md|date=November 28, 2012|url=https://github.com/venomous0x/WhatsAPI/blob/master/README.md|publisher=GitHub|type=blog|orig-year=May 29, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622220422/https://github.com/venomous0x/WhatsAPI/blob/master/README.md|archive-date=June 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
WhatsApp uses a "store and forward" mechanism for exchanging messages between two users. When a user sends a message, it is stored on a WhatsApp server, which tries to forward it to the addressee, and repeatedly requests acknowledgement of receipt. When the message is acknowledged, the server deletes it; if undelivered after 30 days, it is also deleted.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gaurav|last=Rathee|title=How WhatsApp Works|date=June 25, 2015|url=http://digitalperiod.com/explore-whatsapp-clock-sign-and-tick/|type=blog|orig-year=June 25, 2015|access-date=June 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630212039/http://digitalperiod.com/explore-whatsapp-clock-sign-and-tick/|archive-date=June 30, 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=October 2015}}
=== End-to-end encryption === On November 18, 2014, Open Whisper Systems announced a partnership with WhatsApp to provide end-to-end encryption by incorporating the encryption protocol used in Signal into each WhatsApp client platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/11/18/end-to-end-for-everyone/|title=WhatsApp Partners With Open WhisperSystems To End-To-End Encrypt Billions Of Messages A Day|last=Evans|first=Jon|date=November 18, 2014|website=TechCrunch|access-date=November 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118220338/http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/18/end-to-end-for-everyone/|archive-date=November 18, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Open Whisper Systems said that they had already incorporated the protocol into the latest WhatsApp client for Android, and that support for other clients, group/media messages, and key verification would be coming soon after.<ref name="whispersystems">{{cite web|url=https://whispersystems.org/blog/whatsapp/|title=Open Whisper Systems partners with WhatsApp to provide end-to-end encryption|date=November 18, 2014|publisher=Open Whisper Systems|access-date=November 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118161936/https://www.whispersystems.org/blog/whatsapp/|archive-date=November 18, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp confirmed the partnership to reporters, but there was no announcement or documentation about the encryption feature on the official website, and further requests for comment were declined.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2014/11/18/facebooks-messaging-service-whatsapp-gets-a-security-boost/|title=Facebook's messaging service WhatsApp gets a security boost|last=Snyder|first=Benjamin|date=November 18, 2014|website=Forbes|access-date=November 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120193716/http://fortune.com/2014/11/18/facebooks-messaging-service-whatsapp-gets-a-security-boost/|archive-date=November 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2015, German magazine ''Heise security'' used ARP spoofing to confirm that the protocol had been implemented for Android-to-Android messages, and that WhatsApp messages from or to iPhones running iOS were still not end-to-end encrypted.<ref name="Heise-April-2015" /> They expressed the concern that regular WhatsApp users still could not tell the difference between end-to-end encrypted messages and regular messages.<ref name="Heise-April-2015">{{cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Keeping-Tabs-on-WhatsApp-s-Encryption-2630361.html|title=Keeping Tabs on WhatsApp's Encryption|last=Scherschel|first=Fabian A.|date=April 30, 2015|publisher=Heise Security|access-date=April 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430172636/http://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Keeping-Tabs-on-WhatsApp-s-Encryption-2630361.html|archive-date=April 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
On April 5, 2016, WhatsApp and Open Whisper Systems announced that they had finished adding end-to-end encryption to "every form of communication" on WhatsApp, and that users could now verify each other's keys.<ref name="Metz-2016-04-05"/><ref name="Lomas 2016" /> Users were also given the option to enable a trust on first use mechanism to be notified if a correspondent's key changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/whatsapp-rolls-out-end-end-encryption-its-1bn-users|title=WhatsApp Rolls Out End-To-End Encryption to its Over One Billion Users|last=Budington|first=Bill|date=April 7, 2016|website=Deeplinks Blog|publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912010025/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/whatsapp-rolls-out-end-end-encryption-its-1bn-users|archive-date=September 12, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a white paper that was released along with the announcement, WhatsApp messages are encrypted with the Signal Protocol.<ref name="white-paper">{{cite web|title=WhatsApp Encryption Overview – Technical white paper|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/security/WhatsApp-Security-Whitepaper.pdf|publisher=WhatsApp Inc.|access-date=April 5, 2016|date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405210216/https://www.whatsapp.com/security/WhatsApp-Security-Whitepaper.pdf|archive-date=April 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp calls are encrypted with SRTP, and all client-server communications are "layered within a separate encrypted channel".<ref name="white-paper" />
On October 14, 2021, WhatsApp rolled out end-to-end encryption for backups on Android and iOS. The feature has to be turned on by the user and provides the option to encrypt the backup either with a password or a 64-digit encryption key.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/14/22726803/facebook-whatsapp-end-to-end-encrypted-backups |last=Peters |first=Jay |title=Facebook starts rolling out end-to-end encrypted backups to WhatsApp |date=October 14, 2021 |website=The Verge |access-date=October 14, 2021 |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602005200/https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/14/22726803/facebook-whatsapp-end-to-end-encrypted-backups |url-status=live }}</ref>
The application can store encrypted copies of the chat messages onto the SD card, but chat messages are also stored unencrypted in the SQLite database file "msgstore.db".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stackpointer.io/security/extract-whatsapp-unencrypted-chat-messages/311/|title=How to Extract Unencrypted Whatsapp Chat Messages|date=June 2014|access-date=April 23, 2022|archive-date=April 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408094910/https://stackpointer.io/security/extract-whatsapp-unencrypted-chat-messages/311/|url-status=live}}</ref>
WhatsApp uses the Sender Keys protocol.<ref name="Balbas2023">{{cite conference |last=Balbas |first=David |title=WhatsUpp with Sender Keys? Analysis, Improvements and Security Proofs |url=https://eprint.iacr.org/2023/1385.pdf |publisher=Springer |conference=AsiaCrypt 2023 |access-date=August 23, 2025 |archive-date=October 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009133207/https://eprint.iacr.org/2023/1385.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== WhatsApp Payments === WhatsApp Payments (marketed as ''WhatsApp Pay'') is a peer-to-peer money transfer feature. The service became generally available in India and Brazil, and in Singapore for WhatsApp Business transactions only.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=April 11, 2023 |title=WhatsApp users in Brazil can now pay merchants through the app |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/11/whatsapp-users-in-brazil-can-now-pay-merchants-through-the-app/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101031033/https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/11/whatsapp-users-in-brazil-can-now-pay-merchants-through-the-app/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Espósito |first=Filipe |date=May 12, 2023 |title=WhatsApp users in Singapore can now pay merchants directly from the app |url=https://9to5mac.com/2023/05/12/whatsapp-pay-singapore-merchants/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=9to5Mac |archive-date=May 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518192748/https://9to5mac.com/2023/05/12/whatsapp-pay-singapore-merchants/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==== India ==== In July 2017, WhatsApp received permission from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to enter into partnership with multiple Indian banks,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/companies/whatsapp-gets-nod-for-upi-payments-through-multi-bank-partnerships/articleshow/59537607.cms|title=WhatsApp gets nod for UPI payments through multi bank partnerships|last=Mishra|first=Digbijay|date=July 11, 2017|work=The Times of India|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712021535/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/companies/whatsapp-gets-nod-for-upi-payments-through-multi-bank-partnerships/articleshow/59537607.cms|archive-date=July 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> for transactions over Unified Payments Interface (UPI),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/whatsapp-gets-nod-for-upi-payments/articleshow/59537161.cms|title=WhatsApp gets nod for UPI payments|last=Mishra|first=Digbijay|date=July 11, 2017|work=The Times of India|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712041644/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/whatsapp-gets-nod-for-upi-payments/articleshow/59537161.cms|archive-date=July 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> which relies on mobile phone numbers to make account-to-account transfers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/03/whatsapp-india-peer-to-peer-payments/|title=WhatsApp will reportedly launch peer-to-peer payments in India within 6 months|last=Russell|first=Jon|date=April 4, 2017|website=TechCrunch|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706050957/https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/03/whatsapp-india-peer-to-peer-payments/|archive-date=July 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2020, UPI payments via WhatsApp were initially restricted to 20 million users,<ref>{{cite news |last=Bhargava |first=Yuthika |title=WhatsApp payment service goes live in India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/payments-on-whatsapp-go-live-in-india/article33037143.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=November 7, 2020 |date=November 6, 2020 |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215134019/https://www.thehindu.com/business/payments-on-whatsapp-go-live-in-india/article33037143.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> and to 100 million users in April 2022,<ref>{{cite web |title=WhatsApp permitted to extend payments service to 100 million users in India |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/13/whatsapp-permitted-to-extend-payments-service-to-100-million-users-in-india/ |date=April 13, 2022 |work=TechCrunch |last=Singh |first=Manish}}</ref> and became generally available to everyone in August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=WhatsApp Pay now available to all users in India |url=https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/whatsapp-pay-now-available-to-all-users-in-india-71604629561156.html |date=August 20, 2022 |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref>
=== Facebook/WhatsApp cryptocurrency project, 2019–2022=== {{See also|Diem (digital currency)}} On February 28, 2019, ''The New York Times'' reported that Facebook was "hoping to succeed where Bitcoin failed" by developing an in-house cryptocurrency that would be incorporated into WhatsApp. The project reportedly involved more than 50 engineers under the direction of former PayPal president David A. Marcus. This "Facebook coin" would reportedly be a stablecoin pegged to the value of a basket of different foreign currencies.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Popper|first1=Nathaniel|last2=Isaac|first2=Mike|title=Facebook and Telegram Are Hoping to Succeed Where Bitcoin Failed|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/technology/cryptocurrency-facebook-telegram.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 5, 2019|date=February 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305190944/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/technology/cryptocurrency-facebook-telegram.html|archive-date=March 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In June 2019, Facebook said that the project would be named Libra, and that a digital wallet named "Calibra" was to be integrated into Facebook and WhatsApp.<ref>{{cite news |last=Boorstin |first=Julia |title=Facebook launches a new cryptocurrency called Libra |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/17/facebook-announces-libra-digital-currency-calibra-digital-wallet.html |access-date=April 21, 2021 |publisher=CNBC |date=June 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421201002/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/17/facebook-announces-libra-digital-currency-calibra-digital-wallet.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After financial regulators in many regions raised concerns, Facebook stated that the currency, renamed Diem since December 2020, would require a government-issued ID for verification, and the wallet app would have fraud protection. Calibra was rebranded to Novi in May 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lecher |first=Colin |title=European regulators are already pressing Facebook about its cryptocurrency |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/18/18683574/facebook-libra-cryptocurrency-regulation-europe-france-germany |access-date=April 22, 2021 |work=The Verge |date=June 18, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602173736/https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/18/18683574/facebook-libra-cryptocurrency-regulation-europe-france-germany |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bursztynsky |first=Jessica |title=Facebook-backed Libra Association has been renamed Diem |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/facebook-backed-libra-digital-currency-has-been-renamed-diem.html |access-date=April 21, 2021 |publisher=CNBC |date=December 1, 2020 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408194357/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/facebook-backed-libra-digital-currency-has-been-renamed-diem.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bursztynsky |first=Jessica |title=Facebook renames its service that will let people send Libra digital currency to one another |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/26/facebook-novi-is-new-name-for-libra-digital-wallet.html |access-date=April 21, 2021 |publisher=CNBC |date=May 26, 2020 |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609104512/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/26/facebook-novi-is-new-name-for-libra-digital-wallet.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Meta (formerly Facebook) ended its Novi project on September 1, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Novi pilot has ended |url=https://www.facebook.com/help/1388094248345081 |access-date=September 23, 2022 |via=Facebook |archive-date=November 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106155716/https://www.facebook.com/help/1388094248345081/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Vanian |first=Jonathan |title=The last remnant of Facebook's crypto project shuts down September 1 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/01/the-last-remnant-of-facebooks-crypto-project-shuts-down-september-1.html |publisher=CNBC |date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-date=May 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513212327/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/01/the-last-remnant-of-facebooks-crypto-project-shuts-down-september-1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Controversies and criticism ==
=== Misinformation === WhatsApp has repeatedly imposed limits on message forwarding in response to the spread of misinformation in countries including India and Australia. The measure, first introduced in 2018 to combat spam, was expanded and remained active in 2021. WhatsApp stated that the forwarding limits had helped to curb the spread of misinformation regarding COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/19/whatsapp-limits-message-forwarding/ |title=WhatsApp limits message forwarding in bid to reduce spam and misinformation |last=Russell |first=Jon |date=July 20, 2018 |work=TechCrunch |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012190531/http://techcrunch.com/2018/07/19/whatsapp-limits-message-forwarding/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/27/21238082/whatsapp-forward-message-limits-viral-misinformation-decline |title=WhatsApp says its forwarding limits have cut the spread of viral messages by 70 percent |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=April 27, 2020 |work=The Verge |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820112244/https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/27/21238082/whatsapp-forward-message-limits-viral-misinformation-decline |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/24/facebook-forced-to-limit-sydney-lockdown-misinformation-spread-via-whatsapp |title=Facebook forced to limit misinformation spread via WhatsApp amid Sydney lockdown |last=Taylor |first=Josh |date=July 23, 2021 |work=The Guardian |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408170256/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/24/facebook-forced-to-limit-sydney-lockdown-misinformation-spread-via-whatsapp |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Murders in India==== {{Main|Indian WhatsApp lynchings}}
{{See also|WhatsApp University}} In India, WhatsApp encouraged people to report messages that were fraudulent or incited violence after lynch mobs in India murdered innocent people because of malicious WhatsApp messages falsely accusing the victims of intending to abduct children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/india-child-kidnap-abduction-video-rumours-killings-1.4737041|title=WhatsApp cracks down on fake content after child-kidnap rumours spark killings across India|last1=Bassi|first1=Simi|date=July 8, 2018|publisher=CBC News|last2=Sengupta|first2=Joyita|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709115019/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/india-child-kidnap-abduction-video-rumours-killings-1.4737041|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> There were a series of incidents between 2017 and 2020, after which WhatsApp announced changes for Indian users of the platform that labels forwarded messages as such.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rahman |first=Shaikh Azizur |date=July 13, 2018 |title='Fake news often goes viral': WhatsApp ads warn India after mob lynchings |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/13/fake-news-whatsapp-ads-india-mob-lynchings |url-status=live |access-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730170619/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/13/fake-news-whatsapp-ads-india-mob-lynchings |archive-date=July 30, 2018}}</ref>
====2018 elections in Brazil==== In an investigation on the use of social media in politics, it was found that WhatsApp was being abused for the spread of fake news in the 2018 presidential elections in Brazil.<ref name="The New York Times 2018">{{cite web|title=Opinion – Fake News Is Poisoning Brazilian Politics. WhatsApp Can Stop It.|website=The New York Times|date=October 17, 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/opinion/brazil-election-fake-news-whatsapp.html|access-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018125853/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/opinion/brazil-election-fake-news-whatsapp.html|archive-date=October 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It was reported that US$3 million was spent in illegal concealed contributions related to this practice.<ref name="Folha de S.Paulo 2018">{{cite web|title=Businessmen Fund WhatsApp Campaign Against PT|website=Folha de S.Paulo|date=October 18, 2018|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2018/10/businessmen-fund-whatsapp-campaign-against-pt.shtml|access-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201820/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2018/10/businessmen-fund-whatsapp-campaign-against-pt.shtml|archive-date=October 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Researchers and journalists called on WhatsApp's parent company, Facebook, to adopt measures similar to those adopted in India and restrict the spread of hoaxes and fake news.<ref name="The New York Times 2018" />
=== Security and privacy === {{Main|Reception and criticism of WhatsApp security and privacy features}}
WhatsApp was initially criticized for its lack of encryption, sending information as plaintext.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yourdailymac.net/2011/05/whatsapp-leaks-usernames-telephone-numbers-and-messages/|title=WhatsApp leaks usernames, telephone numbers and messages {{!}} Your Daily Mac|last=Brookehoven|first=Corey|date=May 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523235136/http://www.yourdailymac.net/2011/05/whatsapp-leaks-usernames-telephone-numbers-and-messages/|archive-date=May 23, 2011|access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> Encryption was first added in May 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.itpro.es/miequipoestaloco/whatsapp-ya-cifra-los-mensajes/|title=Whatsapp ya cifra los mensajes|date=May 11, 2012|publisher=IT Pro|trans-title=WhatsApp already encrypts messages|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408070915/http://blogs.itpro.es/miequipoestaloco/whatsapp-ya-cifra-los-mensajes/|archive-date=April 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/davidbb/status/199861196365639680|title=preliminary protocol inspection shows that @WhatsApp has turned on some kind of encryption in the latest Android version (2.7.7532)|last=Barrera|first=David|date=May 8, 2012|website=@davidbb|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007051543/https://twitter.com/davidbb/status/199861196365639680|archive-date=October 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=ae_g_i_s|number=200579125818298370|title=Oh look. The key to WhatsApp's new encryption is at least a strong random one. Guess how I know? :D|last=ægis|date=May 10, 2012|website=@ae_g_i_s|access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> End-to-end encryption was only fully implemented in April 2016 after a two-year process. {{as of|2021|09}}, it is known that WhatsApp makes extensive use of outside contractors and artificial intelligence systems to examine certain user messages, images and videos (those that have been flagged by users as possibly abusive); and turns over to law enforcement metadata including critical account and location information.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Elkind |first1=Peter |last2=Gillum |first2=Jack |last3=Silverman |first3=Craig |title=How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |website=ProPublica |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023170039/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2016, WhatsApp was widely praised for the addition of end-to-end encryption and earned a 6 out of 7 points on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's "Secure Messaging Scorecard".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/secure-messaging-more-secure-mess|title=Secure Messaging? More Like A Secure Mess.|last1=Cardozo|first1=Nate|last2=Gebhart|first2=Gennie|last3=Portnoy|first3=Erica|date=March 26, 2018|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808031200/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/secure-messaging-more-secure-mess|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp was criticized by security researchers and the Electronic Frontier Foundation for using backups that are not covered by end-to-end encryption and allow messages to be accessed by third-parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/technology/2018/06/paul-manafort-how-did-fbi-access-whatsapp-messages.html|title=How Did the FBI Access Paul Manafort's Encrypted Messages?|last=Mak|first=Aaron|date=June 5, 2018|website=Slate|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712191232/https://slate.com/technology/2018/06/paul-manafort-how-did-fbi-access-whatsapp-messages.html|archive-date=July 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/where-whatsapp-went-wrong-effs-four-biggest-security-concerns|title=Where WhatsApp Went Wrong: EFF's Four Biggest Security Concerns|last=Gebhart|first=Bill Budington and Gennie|date=October 13, 2016|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731163459/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/where-whatsapp-went-wrong-effs-four-biggest-security-concerns|archive-date=July 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2019, Edward Snowden alarmed: "The problem with applications like WhatsApp is, it was actually designed to have very strong encryption, just the same as the gold standard today which would be the signal messenger or the wire messenger, but then it was bought by Facebook because it was so good, and now Facebook is quite aggressively reducing the security of WhatsApp about once a quarter, and they’re trying to do it as quietly as possible, so a messenger that the people are comfortable using now is actually a danger to you."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shakil |first=Wasif |date=2021-01-18 |title=Signal is more secure than WhatsApp, believes Edward Snowden |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/776144-everybody-can-get-back-to-uninstalling-whatsapp-now-edward-snowden-after-signal-recovers |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en-US |archive-date=February 11, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260211053046/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/776144-everybody-can-get-back-to-uninstalling-whatsapp-now-edward-snowden-after-signal-recovers |url-status=live }}</ref>
In May 2019, a security vulnerability in WhatsApp was found and fixed that allowed a remote person to install spyware by making a call which did not need to be answered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/update-whatsapp-now-bug-lets-snoopers-put-spyware-on-your-phone-with-just-a-call/|title=Update WhatsApp now: Bug lets snoopers put spyware on your phone with just a call|last=Tung|first=Liam|publisher=ZDNet|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607180022/https://www.zdnet.com/article/update-whatsapp-now-bug-lets-snoopers-put-spyware-on-your-phone-with-just-a-call/|archive-date=June 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cyber-whatsapp-nsogroup/whatsapp-sues-israels-nso-for-allegedly-helping-spies-hack-phones-around-the-world-idUSKBN1X82BE|title=WhatsApp sues Israel's NSO for allegedly helping spies hack phones around the world|last=Satter|first=Raphael|newspaper=U.S.|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029215504/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cyber-whatsapp-nsogroup/whatsapp-sues-israels-nso-for-allegedly-helping-spies-hack-phones-around-the-world-idUSKBN1X82BE|archive-date=October 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2019, WhatsApp was criticized for its implementation of a 'delete for everyone' feature. iOS users can elect to save media to their camera roll automatically. When a user deletes media for everyone, WhatsApp does not delete images saved in the iOS camera roll and so those users are able to keep the images. WhatsApp released a statement saying that "the feature is working properly", and that images stored in the camera roll cannot be deleted due to Apple's security layers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/09/18/nasty-whatsapp-privacy-surprise-delete-for-everyone-doesnt-delete-for-everyone/|title=WhatsApp Warning For Millions Of iPhone Users As 'Delete For Everyone' Fails To Work|last=Doffman|first=Zak|website=Forbes|access-date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924152633/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/09/18/nasty-whatsapp-privacy-surprise-delete-for-everyone-doesnt-delete-for-everyone/|archive-date=September 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In November 2019, WhatsApp released a new privacy feature that let users decide who can add them to groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/whatsapps-new-privacy-feature-lets-users-decide-who-can-add-them-to-groups_in_5dc283d9e4b0f5dcf8fd677f|title=How To Enable New WhatsApp Feature That Lets You Decide Who Can Add You To Groups|date=November 6, 2019|website=HuffPost India|access-date=November 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201175620/https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/whatsapps-new-privacy-feature-lets-users-decide-who-can-add-them-to-groups_in_5dc283d9e4b0f5dcf8fd677f|archive-date=December 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2019, WhatsApp confirmed a security flaw that would allow hackers to use a malicious GIF image file to gain access to the recipient's data. When the recipient opened the gallery within WhatsApp, even if not sending the malicious image, the hack is triggered and the device and its contents become vulnerable. The flaw was patched and users were encouraged to update WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Jordan|last=Valinsky|date=October 7, 2019|title=WhatsApp had a bug that let hackers take over phones with a GIF|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/07/tech/whatsapp-gif-bug-trnd/index.html|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=CNN Digital|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809014158/https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/07/tech/whatsapp-gif-bug-trnd/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Doffman|first=Zak|title=New WhatsApp Warning: Security Flaw Confirmed—1 Billion Users Told Update Apps Now|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/10/03/new-whatsapp-warning-security-flaw-confirmed1-billion-users-told-update-apps-now/|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=Forbes|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208232716/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/10/03/new-whatsapp-warning-security-flaw-confirmed1-billion-users-told-update-apps-now/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Osborne|first=Charlie|title=WhatsApp vulnerability exploited through malicious GIFs to hijack chat sessions|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/whatsapp-vulnerability-exploited-through-malicious-gifs-to-hijack-chat-sessions/|access-date=December 21, 2020|publisher=ZDNet|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112042322/https://www.zdnet.com/article/whatsapp-vulnerability-exploited-through-malicious-gifs-to-hijack-chat-sessions/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On December 17, 2019, WhatsApp fixed a security flaw that allowed cyber attackers to repeatedly crash the messaging application for all members of group chat, which could only be fixed by forcing the complete uninstall and reinstall of the app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/12/17/whatsapp-update-warning-as-new-app-killing-message-confirmed-heres-what-you-need-to-know/|title=WhatsApp Update Warning As New 'App Killing' Message Confirmed: Here's What You Need To Know|last=Doffman|first=Zak|website=Forbes|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503055911/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/12/17/whatsapp-update-warning-as-new-app-killing-message-confirmed-heres-what-you-need-to-know/|archive-date=May 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The bug was discovered by Check Point in August 2019 and reported to WhatsApp. It was fixed in version 2.19.246 onwards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://research.checkpoint.com/2019/breakingapp-whatsapp-crash-data-loss-bug/|title=BreakingApp – WhatsApp Crash & Data Loss Bug|date=December 17, 2019|website=Check Point Research|access-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221121530/https://research.checkpoint.com/2019/breakingapp-whatsapp-crash-data-loss-bug/|archive-date=December 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-security-flaw-checkpoint/|title=Crisis averted: WhatsApp fixed a lethal security flaw|last=Kraus|first=Rachel|website=Mashable|date=December 17, 2019|access-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221121527/https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-security-flaw-checkpoint/|archive-date=December 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
For security purposes, since February 1, 2020, WhatsApp has been made unavailable on smartphones using legacy operating systems like Android 2.3.7 or older and iPhone iOS 8 or older that are no longer updated by their providers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51329882|title=WhatsApp to stop working on millions of phones|date=January 31, 2020|website=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203071052/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51329882|archive-date=February 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2020, the NSO Group held its governmental clients accountable for the allegation of human rights abuses by WhatsApp. In its revelation via documents received from court, the group claimed that the lawsuit brought against the company by WhatsApp threatened to infringe on its clients' "national security and foreign policy concerns". However, the company did not reveal names of the end users, which according to a research by Citizen Lab include, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.<ref name=TheGuardian>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/nso-group-points-finger-at-state-clients-in-whatsapp-spying-case|title=NSO Group points finger at state clients in WhatsApp spying case|access-date=April 7, 2020|website=The Guardian|date=April 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407181250/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/nso-group-points-finger-at-state-clients-in-whatsapp-spying-case|archive-date=April 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
On December 16, 2020, a claim that WhatsApp gave Google access to private messages was included in the anti-trust case against the latter. As the complaint was heavily redacted due to being an ongoing case, it did not disclose whether this was alleged tampering with the app's end-to-end encryption, or Google accessing user backups.{{clarify|date=December 2022}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/17/22180258/google-whatsapp-facebook-data-deal-antitrust-case-debunk|title=Prosecutors say Google accessed private WhatsApp messages — but the evidence is thin|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=The Verge|date=December 17, 2020|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117051847/https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/17/22180258/google-whatsapp-facebook-data-deal-antitrust-case-debunk|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2021, WhatsApp announced an updated privacy policy which stated that WhatsApp would share user data with Facebook and its "family of companies" beginning February 2021. Previously, users could opt-out of such data sharing, but the new policy removed this option. The new privacy policy would not apply within the EU, as it is illegal under the GDPR. Facebook and WhatsApp were widely criticized for this move.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Goodin|first=Dan|date=January 6, 2021|title=WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using the app|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/01/whatsapp-users-must-share-their-data-with-facebook-or-stop-using-the-app/|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=Ars Technica|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119081857/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/01/whatsapp-users-must-share-their-data-with-facebook-or-stop-using-the-app/|url-status=live}}</ref> The enforcement of the privacy policy was postponed from February 8 to May 15, 2021,<ref name="Kharpal"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Statt|first=Nick|date=January 15, 2021 |title=WhatsApp to delay new privacy policy amid mass confusion about Facebook data sharing|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/15/22233257/whatsapp-privacy-policy-update-delayed-three-months|access-date=March 15, 2021|website=The Verge|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303184810/https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/15/22233257/whatsapp-privacy-policy-update-delayed-three-months|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp announced they had no plans to limit the functionality of the app for those who did not approve the new terms.<ref name="effective_date" />
On October 15, 2021, WhatsApp announced that it would begin offering an end-to-end encryption service for chat backups, meaning no third party (including both WhatsApp and the cloud storage vendor) would have access to a user's information. This new encryption feature added an additional layer of protection to chat backups stored either on Apple iCloud or Google Drive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/whatsapp-new-encryption-feature-protects-your-chat-history-from-prying-eyes|title=WhatsApp: New encryption feature protects your chat history from prying eyes|website=TechRadar|date=October 15, 2021|first=Joel|last=Khalili|access-date=October 16, 2021|archive-date=June 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604000202/https://www.techradar.com/news/whatsapp-new-encryption-feature-protects-your-chat-history-from-prying-eyes|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 29, 2021, an FBI document was uncovered by Rolling Stone, revealing that WhatsApp responds to warrants and subpoenas from law enforcement within minutes, providing user metadata to the authorities. The metadata includes the user's contact information and address book.<ref name=RollingStone>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/whatsapp-imessage-facebook-apple-fbi-privacy-1261816/ |title=FBI Document Says the Feds Can Get Your WhatsApp Data — in Real Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 29, 2021 |last=Kroll |first=Andy |access-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-date=November 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114163038/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/whatsapp-imessage-facebook-apple-fbi-privacy-1261816/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In January 2022, an unsealed surveillance application revealed that WhatsApp started tracking seven users from China and Macau in November 2021, based on a request from US DEA investigators. The app collected data on who the users contacted and how often, and when and how they were using the app. This is reportedly not an isolated occurrence, as federal agencies can use the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to covertly track users without submitting any probable cause or linking a user's number to their identity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2022/01/17/whatsapp-ordered-to-spy-on-chinese-phones-by-america-no-explanation-given/ |title=WhatsApp Ordered To Help U.S. Agents Spy On Chinese Phones—No Explanation Required |date=January 17, 2021 |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |website=Forbes |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823061741/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2022/01/17/whatsapp-ordered-to-spy-on-chinese-phones-by-america-no-explanation-given/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the beginning of 2022, it was revealed that San Diego–based startup Boldend had developed tools to hack WhatsApp's encryption, gaining access to user data, at some point since the startup's inception in 2017. The vulnerability was reportedly patched in January 2021. Boldend is financed, in part, by Peter Thiel, a notable investor in Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2022/02/01/billionaire-facebook-investor-peter-thiel-secretly-funded-a-cyber-warfare-startup-that-hacked-whatsapp/ |title=Billionaire Facebook Investor Peter Thiel Secretly Funded A 'Cyber Warfare' Startup That Hacked WhatsApp |date=February 1, 2022 |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |website=Forbes |access-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020221425/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2022/02/01/billionaire-facebook-investor-peter-thiel-secretly-funded-a-cyber-warfare-startup-that-hacked-whatsapp/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In September 2022, a critical security issue in WhatsApp's Android video call feature was reported. An integer overflow bug allowed a malicious user to take full control of the victim's application once a video call between two WhatsApp users was established. The issue was patched on the day it was officially reported.<ref>{{cite web |last=Page |first=Carly |title=WhatsApp fixes 'critical' security bug that put Android phone data at risk |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/27/whatsapp-critical-security-bug/ |website=TechCrunch |date=September 27, 2022 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612085048/https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/27/whatsapp-critical-security-bug/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2025, WhatsApp alerted 90 journalists and other members of civil society that they had been targeted by spyware used by the Israeli technology company Paragon Solutions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=January 31, 2025 |title=WhatsApp says journalists and civil society members were targets of Israeli spyware |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/31/whatsapp-israel-spyware |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In April 2025, a group of Austrian researchers were able to extract 3.5 billion users' phone numbers by being able to make a hundred million contact discovery requests an hour, a flaw that exposed previous warnings from researchers in 2017 were not addressed.<ref name=":11">{{Cite magazine |last=Greenberg |first=Andy |title=A Simple WhatsApp Security Flaw Exposed 3.5 Billion Phone Numbers |url=https://www.wired.com/story/a-simple-whatsapp-security-flaw-exposed-billions-phone-numbers/ |access-date=2025-11-20 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> The researchers notified Meta (who updated the enumeration problem in October), and deleted their copy of the phone numbers.<ref name=":11" />
====UK institutions==== {{As of|2023}}, WhatsApp is widely used by government institutions in the UK, although such use is viewed as problematical since it hinders the public, including journalists, from obtaining accurate government records when making freedom of information requests.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/whatsapp-in-government.pdf |title=WhatsApp in government: How ministers and officials should use messaging apps – and how they shouldn't |publisher= Institute for Government|access-date=September 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212235623/https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/whatsapp-in-government.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
The information commissioner has said that the use of WhatsApp posed risks to transparency since members of Parliament, government ministers, and officials who wished to avoid scrutiny might use WhatsApp despite there being official channels.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Tobi |title=Whitehall use of WhatsApp poses transparency risks, says data watchdog |website=The Guardian |date=March 4, 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/04/whatsapp-whitehall-government-transparency-information-commissioner |access-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603051207/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/04/whatsapp-whitehall-government-transparency-information-commissioner |url-status=live}}</ref> Transparency campaigners have challenged the practice in court.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/mar/22/uk-ministers-accused-of-government-by-whatsapp-in-court |title=UK ministers accused of 'government by WhatsApp' in court |newspaper=The Guardian |date=March 22, 2022 |last=Hall |first=Rachel |access-date=September 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106124149/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/mar/22/uk-ministers-accused-of-government-by-whatsapp-in-court |url-status=live}}</ref>
Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK government routinely used WhatsApp to make decisions on managing the crisis, including on personal rather than government-issued devices. When the official inquiry into the pandemic began seeking evidence in May 2023, this presented issues for its ability to gather the material it sought. A personal device of the former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, had been compromised by a security breach, and it was claimed that it could not be switched on to recover messages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-inquiry-government-seeks-judicial-review-over-order-to-hand-over-johnson-whatsapp-messages-12892475 |title=COVID inquiry: Government seeks judicial review over order to hand over Boris Johnson WhatsApp messages |access-date=September 10, 2023 |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721165309/https://news.sky.com/story/covid-inquiry-government-seeks-judicial-review-over-order-to-hand-over-johnson-whatsapp-messages-12892475 |url-status=live}}</ref> Further, the Cabinet Office had claimed that since many messages were not relevant to the inquiry, it only needed to hand over material it had selected as being relevant. The High Court, in a judicial review sought by the Cabinet Office, declared that all documents sought by the inquiry were to be handed over unredacted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66123656 |title=Government loses court battle over Boris Johnson's Covid WhatsApps |work=BBC News |date=July 6, 2023 |access-date=September 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118090106/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66123656 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2018, it was reported that around 500,000 National Health Service (NHS) staff used WhatsApp and other instant messaging systems at work and around 29,000 had faced disciplinary action for doing so. Higher usage was reported by frontline clinical staff to keep up with care needs, even though NHS trust policies do not permit their use.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHS staff disciplined due to reliance on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and other apps|url=http://practicebusiness.co.uk/nhs-staff-disciplined-due-to-reliance-on-whatsapp-facebook-messenger-and-other-apps/|access-date=October 30, 2018|publisher=Practice Business|date=March 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415112327/http://practicebusiness.co.uk/nhs-staff-disciplined-due-to-reliance-on-whatsapp-facebook-messenger-and-other-apps/|archive-date=April 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Mods and fake versions==== In March 2019, WhatsApp released a guide for users who had installed unofficial modified versions of WhatsApp and warned that it may ban those using unofficial clients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/internet/whatsapp-to-ban-users-for-using-fake-apps-mod-apk-unofficial-official-app/story/325675.html|title=WhatsApp to ban users for using fake apps; here's how to migrate back to the official app|website=businesstoday.in|date=March 8, 2019 |access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331072408/https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/internet/whatsapp-to-ban-users-for-using-fake-apps-mod-apk-unofficial-official-app/story/325675.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
====WhatsApp snooping scandal==== {{Main|WhatsApp snooping scandal}}
In May 2019, WhatsApp was attacked by hackers who installed spyware on a number of victims' smartphones.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 14, 2019 |title=WhatsApp Hack Target: I Fear More Victims Are Out There |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/05/14/whatsapp-hack-target-i-fear-more-victims-are-out-there/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514195119/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/05/14/whatsapp-hack-target-i-fear-more-victims-are-out-there/#635adb496113 |archive-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref> The hack, allegedly developed by Israeli surveillance technology firm NSO Group, injected malware onto WhatsApp users' phones via a remote-exploit bug in the app's Voice over IP calling functions. A ''Wired'' report noted the attack was able to inject malware via calls to the targeted phone, even if the user did not answer the call.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Lily Hay |date=May 14, 2019 |title=How Hackers Broke WhatsApp With Just a Phone Call |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/whatsapp-hack-phone-call-voip-buffer-overflow/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603212738/https://www.wired.com/story/whatsapp-hack-phone-call-voip-buffer-overflow/ |archive-date=June 3, 2019 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>
In October 2019, WhatsApp filed a lawsuit against NSO Group in a San Francisco court, claiming that the alleged cyberattack violated US laws including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).<ref>{{cite web |date=January 16, 2012 |title=WhatsApp sues Israeli firm NSO over cyberespionage |url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/717/whatsapp-sues-israeli-firm-nso-over-cyberespionage-doc-1lu56d1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030011028/https://www.afp.com/en/news/717/whatsapp-sues-israeli-firm-nso-over-cyberespionage-doc-1lu56d1 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref> According to WhatsApp, the exploit "targeted at least 100 human-rights defenders, journalists and other members of civil society" among a total of 1,400 users in 20 countries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Satter |first1=Raphael |last2=Culliford |first2=Elizabeth |date=October 30, 2019 |title=WhatsApp sues Israel's NSO for allegedly helping spies hack phones around the world |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cyber-whatsapp-nsogroup-idUSKBN1X82BE |url-status=live |access-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030011016/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cyber-whatsapp-nsogroup-idUSKBN1X82BE |archive-date=October 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bajak |first=Frank |date=October 29, 2019 |title=Facebook sues Israeli company over WhatsApp spyware |url=https://apnews.com/a7ad0788b9e4498a878009d1a8c5a206 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030005205/https://apnews.com/a7ad0788b9e4498a878009d1a8c5a206 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |work=Associated Press News}}</ref><ref name=WashingtonPostWhatsAppPushback/>
In April 2020, the NSO Group held its governmental clients accountable for the allegation of human rights abuses by WhatsApp. In its revelation via documents received via court, the group claimed that the lawsuit brought against the company by WhatsApp threatened to infringe on its clients' "national security and foreign policy concerns". However, the company did not reveal the names of the end users, which according to research by Citizen Lab include, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.<ref name=TheGuardian/>
In July 2020, a US federal judge ruled that the lawsuit against NSO group could proceed. NSO Group filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the judge denied all of its arguments.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shu |first=Catherine |title=Federal court rules WhatsApp and Facebook's malware exploit case against NSO Group can proceed |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/16/federal-court-rules-whatsapp-and-facebooks-malware-exploit-case-against-nso-group-can-proceed/ |date=2016-07-16 |work=TechCrunch |accessdate=2025-05-25 |archive-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429232255/https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/16/federal-court-rules-whatsapp-and-facebooks-malware-exploit-case-against-nso-group-can-proceed/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
====Jeff Bezos phone hack==== {{main|Jeff Bezos phone hacking incident}}
In January 2020, a digital forensic analysis revealed that the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos received an encrypted message on WhatsApp from the official account of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The message reportedly contained a malicious file, the receipt of which resulted in Bezos' phone being hacked. The United Nations' special rapporteur David Kaye and Agnes Callamard later confirmed that Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked through WhatsApp, as he was one of the targets of Saudi's hit list of individuals close to ''The Washington Post'' journalist Jamal Khashoggi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-hacked-by-saudi-crown-prince|title=Jeff Bezos hack: Amazon boss's phone 'hacked by Saudi crown prince'|website=The Guardian|date=January 22, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229191904/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-hacked-by-saudi-crown-prince|archive-date=February 29, 2020|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
====FBI==== In 2021, an FBI document obtained through a Freedom of Information request by ''Property of the People, Inc.'', a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, revealed that WhatsApp and iMessage are vulnerable to law-enforcement real-time searches.<ref name="propertyofthepeople/21114562">{{cite web |title=January 2021 FBI Infographic re Lawful Access to Secure Messaging Apps Data |url=https://propertyofthepeople.org/document-detail/?doc-id=21114562 |website=Property of the People |access-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827005708/https://propertyofthepeople.org/document-detail/?doc-id=21114562 |archive-date=August 27, 2022 |date=November 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name="jpost/687360">{{cite news |author1=Ben Zion Gad |title=Can the FBI monitor your WhatsApp conversations? |url=https://www.jpost.com/cybertech/authorities-can-track-your-live-whatsapp-info-fbi-document-says-687360 |access-date=October 9, 2022 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=November 30, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119210045/https://www.jpost.com/cybertech/authorities-can-track-your-live-whatsapp-info-fbi-document-says-687360 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=RollingStone/>
====Tek Fog==== In January 2022, an investigation by ''The Wire'' claimed that BJP, an Indian political party, allegedly used an app called Tek Fog which was capable of hacking inactive WhatsApp accounts en masse to mass message their contacts with propaganda. According to the report, a whistleblower with app access was able to hack a test WhatsApp account controlled by reporters "within minutes."<ref>{{cite news |title=Tek Fog: An App With BJP Footprints for Cyber Troops to Automate Hate, Manipulate Trends |url=https://thewire.in/tekfog/en/1.html |access-date=January 6, 2022 |work=The Wire |date=January 6, 2022 |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106083630/https://thewire.in/tekfog/en/1.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Monde">{{cite news |title=Tek Fog, un vaste système pour manipuler l'opinion sur les réseaux sociaux en Inde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2022/01/06/tek-fog-un-vaste-systeme-pour-manipuler-l-opinion-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux-en-inde_6108420_4408996.html |access-date=January 6, 2022 |work=Le Monde |date=January 6, 2022 |language=fr |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106135122/https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2022/01/06/tek-fog-un-vaste-systeme-pour-manipuler-l-opinion-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux-en-inde_6108420_4408996.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It was later determined that staff of their Meta investigative team had been duped by false information; ''The Wire'' fired the staff member involved and issued a formal apology to its readers.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wire Editorial: To Our Readers, an Apology and a Promise |url=https://thewire.in/media/the-wire-editorial-to-our-readers-an-apology-and-a-promise |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=The Wire |archive-date=April 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401042849/https://thewire.in/media/the-wire-editorial-to-our-readers-an-apology-and-a-promise |url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Terrorism === In December 2015, it was reported that terrorist organization ISIS had been using WhatsApp to plot the November 2015 Paris attacks.<ref name="Perez2017">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/politics/paris-attacks-terrorists-encryption/|title=First on CNN: Paris attackers likely used encrypted apps, officials say|last1=Perez|first1=Evan|date=December 17, 2015|publisher=CNN|access-date=March 27, 2017|last2=Prokupecz|first2=Shimon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328020524/http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/politics/paris-attacks-terrorists-encryption/|archive-date=March 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''The Independent'', ISIS also uses WhatsApp to traffic sex slaves.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-using-whatsapp-telegram-sell-sex-slaves-iraq-facebook-a7125551.html|title=Isis is using Whatsapp to sell 12 year old sex slaves alongside kittens|last=Agerholm|first=Harriet|date=July 7, 2016|work=The Independent|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117221100/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-using-whatsapp-telegram-sell-sex-slaves-iraq-facebook-a7125551.html|archive-date=January 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2017, British Home Secretary Amber Rudd said encryption capabilities of messaging tools like WhatsApp are unacceptable, as news reported that Khalid Masood used the application several minutes before perpetrating the 2017 Westminster attack. Rudd publicly called for police and intelligence agencies to be given access to WhatsApp and other encrypted messaging services to prevent future terror attacks.<ref name="Sparrow2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/26/intelligence-services-access-whatsapp-amber-rudd-westminster-attack-encrypted-messaging|title=WhatsApp must be accessible to authorities, says Amber Rudd|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|date=March 26, 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=March 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326234809/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/26/intelligence-services-access-whatsapp-amber-rudd-westminster-attack-encrypted-messaging|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2017, the perpetrator of the Stockholm truck attack reportedly used WhatsApp to exchange messages with an ISIS supporter shortly before and after the incident. The messages involved discussing how to make an explosive device and a confession to the attack.<ref name="Osborne2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stockholm-attack-rakhmat-akilov-suspect-isis-whatsapp-messages-sweden-lorry-truck-before-after-a7676011.html|title=Stockholm suspect Rakhmat Akilov 'exchanged Whatsapp messages with Isis supporter before and after attack'|last=Osborne|first=Samuel|date=April 10, 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=April 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523113245/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stockholm-attack-rakhmat-akilov-suspect-isis-whatsapp-messages-sweden-lorry-truck-before-after-a7676011.html|archive-date=May 23, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2017, nearly 300 WhatsApp groups with about 250 members each were reportedly being used to mobilize stone-pelters in Jammu and Kashmir to disrupt security forces' operations at encounter sites. According to police, 90% of these groups were closed down after police contacted their admins.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 24, 2017|title=300 WhatsApp groups used to mobilise stone-pelters in trouble-hit Kashmir: Cop|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/300-whatsapp-groups-used-to-mobilise-stone-pelters-in-trouble-hit-kashmir-cop/story-LCHkmAFAh6FgNGAbfbbgDL.html|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=Hindustan Times|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111193211/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/300-whatsapp-groups-used-to-mobilise-stone-pelters-in-trouble-hit-kashmir-cop/story-LCHkmAFAh6FgNGAbfbbgDL.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Further, after a six-month probe which involved the infiltration of 79 WhatsApp groups, the National Investigation Agency reported that out of about 6386 members and admins of these groups, about 1000 were residents of Pakistan and gulf nations. Further, for their help in negating anti-terror operations, the Indian stone pelters were getting funded through barter trade from Pakistan and other indirect means.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 5, 2017|title=WhatsApp used to gather stone pelters, many admins abroad: NIA|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/whatsapp-used-to-gather-stone-pelters-many-admins-abroad-nia-4828984/|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=The Indian Express|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015425/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/whatsapp-used-to-gather-stone-pelters-many-admins-abroad-nia-4828984/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2022, the FBI stated that an ISIS sympathizer, who was plotting to assassinate George W. Bush, was arrested based on his WhatsApp data. According to the arrest warrant for the suspect, his WhatsApp account was placed under surveillance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vargas |first=Ramon Antonio |title=FBI says it foiled Islamic State sympathizer's plot to kill George W Bush |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/24/george-w-bush-assassination-plot-islamic-state-fbi |work=The Guardian |date=May 24, 2022 |access-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-date=October 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015055623/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/24/george-w-bush-assassination-plot-islamic-state-fbi |url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Scams and malware === There are numerous ongoing scams on WhatsApp that let hackers spread viruses or malware.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/software/whatsapp-scams-3331146/|title=Most Common WhatsApp Scams|date=June 15, 2018|publisher=techadvisor.co.uk|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904121145/https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/software/whatsapp-scams-3331146/|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2016, some WhatsApp users were reported to have been tricked into downloading a third-party application called ''WhatsApp Gold'', which was part of a scam that infected the users' phones with malware.<ref name="Bolton-2016-05-24">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-gold-plus-scam-malware-download-get-message-a7045606.html|title=WhatsApp Gold: Scammers trick mobile phone users into downloading malware|last=Bolton|first=Doug|date=May 24, 2016|work=The Independent|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803112659/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-gold-plus-scam-malware-download-get-message-a7045606.html|archive-date=August 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> A message that promises to allow access to their WhatsApp friends' conversations, or their contact lists, has become the most popular hit against anyone who uses the application in Brazil. Clicking on the message actually sends paid text messages. Since December 2016, more than 1.5 million people have clicked and lost money.<ref>{{cite web|url-status=live|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/novo-golpe-de-whatsapp-atinge-15-milhao-de-vitimas-em-3-meses/|title=Novo golpe de Whatsapp atinge 1,5 milhão de vítimas em 3 meses|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314154116/http://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/novo-golpe-de-whatsapp-atinge-15-milhao-de-vitimas-em-3-meses/|archive-date=March 14, 2017|first=Eduardo F.|last=Filho|date=February 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 30, 2024 |title=WhatsApp scam: More than 100 arrested in Spain for 'son in trouble' fraud |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68931214 |access-date=2024-05-01}}</ref>
Another application called ''GB WhatsApp'' is considered malicious by cybersecurity firm Symantec because it usually performs some unauthorized operations on end-user devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/product-insights/case-study-dangerous-journey-fake-whatsapp-app-onedrive|title=Case Study: The Dangerous Journey of a Fake WhatsApp App on OneDrive|date=March 13, 2018|publisher=symantec.com|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904121125/https://www.symantec.com/blogs/product-insights/case-study-dangerous-journey-fake-whatsapp-app-onedrive|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Bans === ==== China ==== WhatsApp is owned by Meta, whose main social media service Facebook has been blocked in China since 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/business/china-whatsapp-blocked.html|title=China Blocks WhatsApp, Broadening Online Censorship|last=Bradsher|first=Keith|date=September 25, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517211402/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/business/china-whatsapp-blocked.html|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2017, security researchers reported to ''The New York Times'' that the WhatsApp service had been completely blocked in China.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/technology/whatsapp-facebook-china-internet.html|title=China Disrupts WhatsApp Service in Online Clampdown|last=Mozur|first=Paul|date=July 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517175536/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/technology/whatsapp-facebook-china-internet.html|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- {{citation needed span|On November 6, 2019, bans on messages and video calls are lifted, but pictures and voice messages are still not available.|date=November 2019|reason=citation needed}}--><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/269b3de1af34e17c1941a514f78d764c |title=China cuts Uighur births with IUDs, abortion, sterilization |work=Associated Press News |date=June 29, 2020 |access-date=June 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630193503/https://apnews.com/269b3de1af34e17c1941a514f78d764c |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 19, 2024, Apple removed WhatsApp from the App Store in China, citing government orders that stemmed from national security concerns.<ref>{{cite web |last=Capoot |first=Ashley |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/apple-pulls-metas-whatsapp-threads-from-china-app-store/ar-AA1nj543 |website=www.msn.com |access-date=April 19, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tens of millions secretly use WhatsApp despite bans |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckke9x0e50xo |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=www.bbc.com|date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
==== Iran ==== {{Update section|date=February 2025|reason=Mentioned deadline has long passed}} On May 9, 2014, the government of Iran announced that it had proposed to block the access to WhatsApp service to Iranian residents. "The reason for this is the assumption of WhatsApp by the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is an American Zionist", said Abdolsamad Khorramabadi, head of the country's Committee on Internet Crimes. Subsequently, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani issued an order to the Ministry of ICT to stop filtering WhatsApp.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2014/05/140506_me_iran_to_block_watsapp.shtml|title=President Hassan Rouhani issued order to 'hold WhatsApp service filteration'|work=BBC Persian|access-date=May 27, 2014|language=fa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509204208/http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2014/05/140506_me_iran_to_block_watsapp.shtml|archive-date=May 9, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-bans-whatsapp-because-of-link-to-american-zionist-mark-zuckerberg/|title=Iran bans WhatsApp because of link to 'American Zionist' Mark Zuckerberg|author=Daftari, Lisa|date=May 4, 2014|publisher=Fox News|access-date=May 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514151912/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/05/04/iran-bans-whatsapp-because-link-to-american-zionist-mark-zuckerberg/|archive-date=May 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> It was once again blocked in September 2022 but unblocked in December 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Iran Threatens To Permanently Block WhatsApp And Instagram |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-block-whatsapp-instagram/32181283.html |access-date=December 29, 2022 |publisher=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty |author1=Dpa |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305052350/https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-block-whatsapp-instagram/32181283.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Turkey ==== Turkey temporarily banned WhatsApp in 2016, following the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/12/20/turkey-blocks-access-facebook-twitter-whatsapp-following-ambassadors |title=Turkey blocks access to Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp following ambassador's assassination |newspaper=The Telegraph |first=Cara|last=McGoogan |date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207113636/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/12/20/turkey-blocks-access-facebook-twitter-whatsapp-following-ambassadors/|archive-date=December 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Brazil ==== On March 1, 2016, Diego Dzodan, Facebook's vice-president for Latin America was arrested in Brazil for not cooperating with an investigation in which WhatsApp conversations were requested.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/tec/2016/03/1744973-pf-prende-executivo-do-facebook-por-empresa-nao-liberar-dados-do-whatsapp.shtml|title=PF prende executivo do Facebook por empresa não liberar dados do WhatsApp|publisher=Folha de São Paulo|date=March 1, 2016|language=pt|access-date=March 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302103948/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/tec/2016/03/1744973-pf-prende-executivo-do-facebook-por-empresa-nao-liberar-dados-do-whatsapp.shtml|archive-date=March 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 2, 2016, at dawn the next day, Dzodan was released because the Court of Appeal held that the arrest was disproportionate and unreasonable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2016/03/felizes-diz-facebook-sobre-soltura-de-vice-presidente-preso-em-sp.html|title='Felizes', diz Facebook sobre soltura de vice-presidente preso em SP|date=March 2, 2016|access-date=March 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303095857/http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2016/03/felizes-diz-facebook-sobre-soltura-de-vice-presidente-preso-em-sp.html|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
On May 2, 2016, mobile providers in Brazil were ordered to block WhatsApp for 72 hours for the service's second failure to cooperate with criminal court orders.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 3, 2016|title=Brazil Judge blocks access to WhatsApp messaging service|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36187028|access-date=August 1, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108095144/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36187028|url-status=live}}</ref> Once again, the block was lifted following an appeal, after less than 24 hours.<ref name="ars-liftedagain">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/05/brazilian-judge-blocks-whatsapp-for-72-hours-but-it-still-works-over-vpn-wi-fi/|title=Brazilian appellate judge rescinds WhatsApp block|last=Farivar|first=Cyrus|date=May 3, 2016|website=Ars Technica|access-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504115056/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/05/brazilian-judge-blocks-whatsapp-for-72-hours-but-it-still-works-over-vpn-wi-fi/|archive-date=May 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
Brazil's Central Bank issued an order to payment card companies Visa and Mastercard on June 23, 2020, to stop working with WhatsApp on its new electronic payment system. A statement from the Bank asserted the decision to block the Facebook-owned company's latest offering was taken to "preserve an adequate competitive environment" in the mobile payments space and to ensure "functioning of a payment system that's interchangeable, fast, secure, transparent, open and cheap."<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazil Suspends WhatsApp's New Payments System |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/23/technology/23reuters-brazil-central-bank-visa-mastercard.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 23, 2020 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626161650/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/23/technology/23reuters-brazil-central-bank-visa-mastercard.html |archive-date=June 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Brazil suspends WhatsApp's payments service|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/23/brazil-orders-to-suspend-whatsapp-pay-week-after-rollout/|access-date=June 26, 2020|website=TechCrunch|date=June 24, 2020|archive-date=2020-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624062125/https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/23/brazil-orders-to-suspend-whatsapp-pay-week-after-rollout/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Uganda ==== The government of Uganda banned WhatsApp and Facebook, along with other social media platforms, to enforce a tax on the use of social media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wccftech.com/uganda-imposes-social-media-tax-whatsapp/|title=Uganda Imposes Daily Social Media Tax to Stop "Gossip" on WhatsApp|last=Shaikh|first=Rafia|date=May 31, 2018|work=Wccftech|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722110112/https://wccftech.com/uganda-imposes-social-media-tax-whatsapp/|archive-date=July 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Users are to be charged USh.200/= per day to access these services according to the new law set by parliament.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44315675|title=Uganda imposes WhatsApp 'gossip' tax|date=May 31, 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604080431/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44315675|archive-date=June 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== United Arab Emirates (UAE) ==== The United Arab Emirates banned WhatsApp video chat and VoIP call applications<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/technology/404024-end-uae-ban-on-whatsapp-calls-khalaf-al-habtoor-urges|title=End UAE ban on WhatsApp calls, Khalaf Al Habtoor urges|newspaper=Arabian Business|date=September 9, 2018|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410172625/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/technology/404024-end-uae-ban-on-whatsapp-calls-khalaf-al-habtoor-urges|archive-date=April 10, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/23/totok-popular-chat-app-spying-tool-uae-government|title=Popular chat app ToTok is actually a spying tool of UAE government – report|date=December 23, 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 28, 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611234926/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/23/totok-popular-chat-app-spying-tool-uae-government|archive-date=June 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> in as early as 2013<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/skype-whatsapp-face-ban-in-saudi-arabia-report-495231.html|title=Skype, WhatsApp face ban in Saudi Arabia – report|newspaper=Arabian Business|date=March 25, 2013|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612081022/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/skype-whatsapp-face-ban-in-saudi-arabia-report-495231.html|archive-date=June 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> due to what is often reported as an effort to protect the commercial interests of their home grown nationally owned telecom providers (du and Etisalat).<ref name=":1" /> Their app ToTok has received press suggesting it is able to spy on users.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Mazzetti|first1=Mark|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/totok-app-uae.html|title=It Seemed Like a Popular Chat App. It's Secretly a Spy Tool.|date=December 22, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 28, 2020|last2=Perlroth|first2=Nicole|issn=0362-4331|last3=Bergman|first3=Ronen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501124301/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/totok-app-uae.html|archive-date=May 1, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Cuba==== In July 2021, the Cuban government blocked access to several social media platforms, including WhatsApp, to curb the spread of information during the anti-government protests.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cuba's internet cutoff: A go-to tactic to suppress dissent |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-technology-cuba-ca1ae7975e04481e8cbd56d62a7fb30e |access-date=July 14, 2021 |work=Associated Press News |date=July 13, 2021 |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713155550/https://apnews.com/article/business-technology-cuba-ca1ae7975e04481e8cbd56d62a7fb30e |url-status=live}}</ref>
====Switzerland==== In December 2021, the Swiss army banned the use of WhatsApp and several other non-Swiss encrypted messaging services by army personnel. The ban was prompted by concerns of US authorities potentially accessing user data for such apps because of the CLOUD Act. The army recommended that all army personnel use Threema instead, as the service is based in Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |last=Faife |first=Corin |title=Swiss Army drops WhatsApp for homegrown messaging service, citing privacy concerns |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/7/22871881/swiss-army-whatsapp-messaging-threema-privacy-concerns-us-jurisdiction |access-date=January 7, 2022 |work=The Verge |date=January 7, 2022 |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602174935/https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/7/22871881/swiss-army-whatsapp-messaging-threema-privacy-concerns-us-jurisdiction |url-status=live}}</ref>
====Zambia==== In August 2021, the digital rights organization Access Now reported that WhatsApp along with several other social media apps was being blocked in Zambia for the duration of the general election. The organization reported a massive drop-off in traffic for the blocked services, though the country's government made no official statements about the block.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Ian Carlos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/12/22621875/whatsapp-twitter-facebook-blocked-zambia-presidential-election |title=WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook are reportedly blocked in Zambia during its presidential election |date=August 12, 2021 |work=The Verge |access-date=August 13, 2021 |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530222214/https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/12/22621875/whatsapp-twitter-facebook-blocked-zambia-presidential-election |url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Saudi Arabia ==== The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has prohibited local banks from using instant messaging applications like WhatsApp for customer communication. This decision aims to enhance data security and protect customer information.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amir |first=Khitam Al |date=2025-03-03 |title=Saudi banks banned from using WhatsApp for customer service |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-banks-banned-from-using-whatsapp-for-customer-service-1.500051010 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema}}</ref>
==== Russia ==== {{Expand section|date=August 2025}} In Russia, authorities increased pressure on WhatsApp in late 2025. On 28 November 2025, officials warned of a potential full ban on the service.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-threatens-full-ban-whatsapp-tass-reports-2025-11-28/ Russia threatens full ban on WhatsApp]</ref> On 11 February 2026, the Russian government fully blocked WhatsApp, which had at least 100 million users in the country until recently, citing its alleged failure to comply with domestic regulations concerning extremist content and state oversight requirements.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-02-12 |title=Russia blocks Meta's WhatsApp messaging service, FT reports |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russia-blocks-metas-whatsapp-messaging-service-ft-reports |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Moscow |date=2024-07-17 |title=Putin Warns of Blackouts From 'Uncontrolled' Crypto Mining |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/07/17/putin-warns-of-blackouts-from-uncontrolled-crypto-mining-a85745 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref>
As per the BBC report, the decision had been made "due to Meta's unwillingness to comply with the norms and the letter of Russian law". Meta could resume operations, if it complies with the law and enters into dialogue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Russia orders block on WhatsApp in messaging app crackdown |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clygd10pg5lo |website=www.bbc.com |date=12 February 2026}}</ref>
==== Third-party clients ==== In mid-2013, WhatsApp Inc. filed for the DMCA takedown of the discussion thread on the XDA Developers forums about the then popular third-party client "WhatsApp Plus".<ref>{{cite web |title=ipla-2013-07-22.md |url=https://github.com/xda/Notices/blob/master/2013/ipla-2013-07-22.md |publisher=XDA Developers |access-date=February 8, 2022 |date=July 13, 2013 |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530033054/https://github.com/xda/Notices/blob/master/2013/ipla-2013-07-22.md |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2015, some third-party WhatsApp clients that were reverse-engineering the WhatsApp mobile app, received a cease and desist to stop activities that were violating WhatsApp legal terms. As a result, users of third-party WhatsApp clients were also banned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/01/21/whatsapp-now-officially-dead-receiving-cease-desist-real-whatsapp/|title=WhatsApp+ Is Now Officially Dead After Receiving A Cease And Desist From The Real WhatsApp|date=January 21, 2015|access-date=June 22, 2021|archive-date=May 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512230511/https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/01/21/whatsapp-now-officially-dead-receiving-cease-desist-real-whatsapp/|url-status=live}} See also: [https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup/issues/1004 Legal Action Notices Received] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408170301/https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup/issues/1004 |date=April 8, 2023}}</ref>
== WhatsApp Business == WhatsApp launched two business-oriented apps in January 2018,<ref name=Small-Business/> separated by the intended userbase: * A '''WhatsApp Business app''' for small companies<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whatsapp-business-app-definitive-guide-2018-jave-lin/|title=WhatsApp Business App: The Definitive Guide (2018)|last=Lin|first=Jave|date=March 8, 2018|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> * An '''Enterprise Solution''' known as '''WhatsApp Business Platform''' for bigger companies with global customer bases, such as airlines, e-commerce retailers and banks, who would be able to offer customer service and conversational commerce (e-commerce) via WhatsApp chat, using live agents or chatbots (as far back as 2015, companies like Meteordesk<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2015/07/29/tecnologia/1438186298_084563.html|title=MeteorDesk o cómo atender mejor al cliente a través de Whatsapp|first=Ediciones Cinco|last=Días|date=September 1, 2015|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327211936/https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2015/07/29/tecnologia/1438186298_084563.html|archive-date=March 27, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> had provided unofficial solutions for enterprises to attend to large numbers of users, but these were shut down by WhatsApp) This solution was originally available as on-premise only, but in 2022, WhatsApp Cloud API became available. The on-premise API has been deprecated and will be fully sunset on October 23, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=On-Premises API Sunset-WhatsApp Business Platform |url=https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/on-premises/sunset |website=Developers.facebook.com |publisher=Meta |access-date=3 July 2025}}</ref>
As WhatsApp API does not have a frontend interface, businesses need to subscribe through one of Meta's approved Business Solution Providers. Examples of these include respond.io, Gupshup, Trengo, Wati and Manychat.{{citation needed|date=February 2026}}
In October 2020, Facebook announced the introduction of pricing tiers for services offered via the WhatsApp Business API, charged on a per-conversation basis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/shopping-payments-and-customer-service-on-whatsapp/?lang=en|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=whatsapp.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Facebook adds hosting, shopping features and pricing tiers to WhatsApp Business|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/22/facebook-adds-hosting-shopping-features-and-pricing-tiers-to-whatsapp-business/|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=TechCrunch|date=October 22, 2020|archive-date=2021-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326222011/https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/22/facebook-adds-hosting-shopping-features-and-pricing-tiers-to-whatsapp-business/|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 1, 2025, a new pricing tier system came into effect which charges per-message rather than per-conversation.<ref>{{cite web |title=WhatsApp Business Platform Pricing |url=https://business.whatsapp.com/products/platform-pricing |website=business.whatsapp.com |access-date=3 July 2025}}</ref>
In May 2026, WhatsApp launched AI-powered business tools in India for small businesses, enabling automated customer interactions, marketing assistance, and support services through WhatsApp Business.<ref>{{Cite news |title=WhatsApp launches business AI in India for small businesses |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/technology/whatsapp-launches-business-ai-in-india-for-small-businesses-article-13913115.html |work=Moneycontrol |date=2026}}</ref>
== User statistics == WhatsApp handled ten billion messages per day in August 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/08/23/whatsapp-hits-new-record-10-billion-total-messages-one-day/|title=WhatsApp hits new record with 10 billion total messages in one day|last=Olanof|first=Drew|date=August 23, 2012|work=The Next Web|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116033804/http://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/08/23/whatsapp-hits-new-record-10-billion-total-messages-one-day/|archive-date=January 16, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> growing from two billion in April 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thenextweb.com/mobile/2012/04/04/whatsapp-founder-to-operators-were-no-sms-killer-we-get-people-hooked-on-data/|title=WhatsApp founder to operators: 'We're no SMS-killer, we get people hooked on data'|last=Sushma|first=Parab|date=April 4, 2012|work=The Next Web|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122021711/http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2012/04/04/whatsapp-founder-to-operators-were-no-sms-killer-we-get-people-hooked-on-data/|archive-date=January 22, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and one billion the previous October.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/10/31/whatsapp-users-now-send-over-one-billion-messages-a-day/|title=WhatsApp users now send over one billion messages a day|last=Olanoff|first=Drew|date=October 31, 2011|work=TheNextWeb|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127063334/http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/10/31/whatsapp-users-now-send-over-one-billion-messages-a-day/|archive-date=January 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 13, 2013, WhatsApp announced that they had reached their new daily record by processing 27 billion messages.<ref>{{Citation|author=WhatsApp|title=27 Billion msgs handled in just 24 hours!|date=June 12, 2013|url=https://twitter.com/WhatsApp/status/344966710241161216|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015064218/https://twitter.com/WhatsApp/status/344966710241161216|url-status=live|publisher=Tweeter|format=µblog|quote=New daily record: 10B+ msgs sent (inbound) and 17B+ msgs received (outbound) by our users|access-date=August 20, 2013|archive-date=October 15, 2013}}</ref> According to the ''Financial Times'', WhatsApp "has done to SMS on mobile phones what Skype did to international calling on landlines".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/30fd99a2-0c60-11e1-88c6-00144feabdc0.html|title=WhatsApp users get the message|last=Bradshaw|first=Tim|date=November 14, 2011|newspaper=Financial Times|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202164647/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/30fd99a2-0c60-11e1-88c6-00144feabdc0.html|archive-date=February 2, 2013|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref>
By April 22, 2014, WhatsApp had over 500 million monthly active users, 700 million photos and 100 million videos were being shared daily, and the messaging system was handling more than 10 billion messages each day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/technology-others/whatsapp-crosses-half-a-billion-user-mark-strong-growth-in-india-and-brazil/|title=WhatsApp crosses half-a-billion user mark; strong growth in India and Brazil|date=April 23, 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=April 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424174310/http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/technology-others/whatsapp-crosses-half-a-billion-user-mark-strong-growth-in-india-and-brazil/|archive-date=April 24, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2014/04/22/whatsapp-hits-500-million-users/|title=WhatsApp Hits 500 Million Users|last=Chowdhry|first=Amit|date=April 22, 2014|website=Forbes|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514222613/http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2014/04/22/whatsapp-hits-500-million-users/|archive-date=May 14, 2014|access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref>
On August 24, 2014, Koum announced on his Twitter account that WhatsApp had over 600 million active users worldwide. At that point WhatsApp was adding about 25 million new users every month, or 833,000 active users per day.<ref name="Parmy Olsen"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailydigestnews.com/2014/09/whatsapp-to-reach-3-billion-users-zuckerberg-to-invest-billions/|title=WhatsApp to reach 3 billion users, Zuckerberg to invest billions|author=Christian de Looper|work=Daily Digest News|date=September 6, 2014|access-date=September 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907052426/http://dailydigestnews.com/2014/09/whatsapp-to-reach-3-billion-users-zuckerberg-to-invest-billions/|archive-date=September 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2017, it was reported that WhatsApp users spend over 340 million minutes on video calls each day on the app. This is the equivalent of roughly 646 years of video calls per day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/whatsapp-users-spend-average-646-years-video-calls/|title=Whatsapp users spend an average of 646 years on video calls|date=May 9, 2017|work=Smatt Geeks Media|access-date=March 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308232541/https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/whatsapp-users-spend-average-646-years-video-calls/|archive-date=March 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
By February 2017, WhatsApp had over 1.2 billion users globally,<ref name="Statt-2016-02-01"/> reaching 1.5 billion monthly active users by the end of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/31/whatsapp-hits-1-5-billion-monthly-users-19b-not-so-bad/|date=January 31, 2018|first=Josh|last=Constine|title=WhatsApp hits 1.5 billion monthly users. $19B? Not so bad.|access-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063953/https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/31/whatsapp-hits-1-5-billion-monthly-users-19b-not-so-bad/|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2020, WhatsApp reached over 5 billion installs on Google Play Store making it only the second non-Google app to achieve this milestone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/whatsapp-registers-over-5-billion-installs-on-google-play-store/story-jgg9GSYtRWHwZeDIUwK7GL.html|title=WhatsApp registers over 5 billion installs on Google Play Store|date=January 19, 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119160023/https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/whatsapp-registers-over-5-billion-installs-on-google-play-store/story-jgg9GSYtRWHwZeDIUwK7GL.html|archive-date=January 19, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
In February 2020, WhatsApp had over 2 billion users globally.<ref name=2-billion-users/><ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp: number of users 2013–2017|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/260819/number-of-monthly-active-whatsapp-users/|access-date=July 21, 2020|website=Statista}}</ref>
In May 2025, Meta reported WhatsApp had over 3 billion monthly active users globally.<ref name=3-billion-users>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp now has more than 3 billion users a month|url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/01/whatsapp-now-has-more-than-3-billion-users/|access-date=August 29, 2025|website=TechCrunch |date=May 2025 }}</ref>
=== Specific markets === India is by far WhatsApp's largest market in terms of total number of users. In May 2014, WhatsApp crossed 50 million monthly active users in India, which is also its largest country by the number of monthly active users,<ref>{{cite web|title=WhatsApp crosses 50 million monthly active users in India, ties up with Airtel for special data plans|url=http://www.bgr.in/news/whatsapp-crosses-50-million-monthly-active-users-in-india-ties-up-with-airtel-for-special-data-plans/|first=Rajat|last=Agrawal|work=BGR India |access-date=May 11, 2014|date=May 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512220453/http://www.bgr.in/news/whatsapp-crosses-50-million-monthly-active-users-in-india-ties-up-with-airtel-for-special-data-plans/|archive-date=May 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> then 70 million in October 2014, making users in India 10% of WhatsApp's total user base.<ref>{{cite news|title=WhatsApp user-base crosses 70 million in India|journal=The Economic Times|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/whatsapp-user-base-crosses-70-million-in-india/articleshow/45012742.cms|author1=PTI|access-date=July 25, 2023|date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703113835/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/whatsapp-user-base-crosses-70-million-in-india/articleshow/45012742.cms|archive-date=July 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2017, WhatsApp reached 200 million monthly active users in India.<ref>{{cite web|title=WhatsApp user-base crosses 200 million in India|date=February 25, 2017 |url=http://m.gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-now-has-200-million-monthly-active-users-in-india-1663332|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303050703/http://m.gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-now-has-200-million-monthly-active-users-in-india-1663332|archive-date=March 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Israel is one of WhatsApp's strongest markets in terms of ubiquitous usage. According to ''Globes'', already by 2013 the application was installed on 92% of all smartphones, with 86% of users reporting daily use.<ref name="globes2013">{{cite news|url=http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000893814|language=he|title=92% מבעלי הסמארטפונים בישראל משתמשים בוואטסאפ|trans-title=92% of Israel's smartphones use WhatsApp|first=Tzahi|last=Hoffman|date=November 14, 2013|work=Globes|access-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007070218/http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000893814|archive-date=October 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
In July 2024, WhatsApp reached 100 million users in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=100 million using WhatsApp across the United States|date=July 25, 2024 |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/100-million-using-whatsapp-across-the-united-states|access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref>
=== Competition === WhatsApp competes with messaging services including iMessage (estimated 1.3 billion active users<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://247wallst.com/technology-3/2019/01/17/apple-facebook-messaging/ |title=Information: Facebook's Messenger has overtaken Apple's iMessage | work=247wallst.com |date=January 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808181717/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/information-facebooks-messenger-has-overtaken-apples-imessage-2019-01-17|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>), WeChat (1.26 billion active users<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/daily-active-user-of-messaging-app-wechat-exceeds-1-billion/|title=Daily active users for WeChat exceeds 1 billion|last=Lee|first=Cyrus|publisher=ZDNet|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708221330/https://www.zdnet.com/article/daily-active-user-of-messaging-app-wechat-exceeds-1-billion/|archive-date=July 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WeChat: active users worldwide|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/255778/number-of-active-wechat-messenger-accounts/|access-date=July 21, 2020|website=Statista}}</ref>), Telegram (1 billion users<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=2025-03-19 |title=Telegram founder Pavel Durov says app now has 1B users, calls WhatsApp a 'cheap, watered down imitation' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/19/telegram-founder-pavel-durov-says-app-now-has-1b-users-calls-whatsapp-a-cheap-watered-down-imitation/ |access-date=2026-01-21 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>), Viber (260 million active users<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mind-Blowing Viber Statistics for 2019|url=https://99firms.com/blog/viber-statistics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808181716/https://99firms.com/blog/viber-statistics/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|access-date=August 8, 2019|website=99firms.com}}</ref>), LINE (217 million active users<ref>{{Cite web|title=LINE: number of monthly active users|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/327292/number-of-monthly-active-line-app-users/|access-date=July 21, 2020|website=Statista}}</ref>), KakaoTalk (57 million active users<ref>{{Cite news |title=South Korea's President Yoon calls for quick resumption of popular messaging, portal services after fire {{!}} the Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/fire-disrupts-service-for-south-koreas-super-app-kakaotalk |website=The Straits Times|date=October 16, 2022}}</ref>), and Signal (70 million active users<ref>{{Cite web |title=Signal Revenue & Usage Statistics (2025) |url=https://www.businessofapps.com/data/signal-statistics/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Business of Apps}}</ref>). Both Telegram and Signal in particular were reported to get registration spikes during WhatsApp outages and controversies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-outage-down-telegram-facebook-messaging-app-a8822501.html|title=Millions of people flock to Telegram following WhatsApp outage|date=March 14, 2019|website=The Independent|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422225829/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-outage-down-telegram-facebook-messaging-app-a8822501.html|archive-date=April 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=TelegramDownloads/>
WhatsApp has increasingly drawn its innovation from competing services,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/whatsapp-broadcast-groups/|title=WhatsApp copies Telegram to add one-way 'broadcast' mode to group chats|website=TechCrunch|date=June 30, 2018|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026133941/https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/whatsapp-broadcast-groups/|url-status=live}}</ref> such as a Telegram-inspired web version<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cultofandroid.com/70720/whatsapps-android-code-hints-upcoming-browser-app/|title=WhatsApp's Android code hints at upcoming browser app|date=December 12, 2014|website=Cult of Android|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808181724/https://www.cultofandroid.com/70720/whatsapps-android-code-hints-upcoming-browser-app/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and features for groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/12/08/telegram-claims-50m-monthly-active-users-seems-to-be-attracting-teams/|title=Telegram Claims 50M Monthly Active Users, Seems To Be Attracting Teams|website=TechCrunch|date=December 9, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120222335/http://techcrunch.com/2014/12/08/telegram-claims-50m-monthly-active-users-seems-to-be-attracting-teams/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, WhatsApp was accused of copying features from a then-unreleased version of iMessage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/mobiles-and-tabs/050716/whatsapp-gets-accused-of-copying-features-from-imessage-in-ios-10.html|title=WhatsApp gets accused of copying features from iMessage in iOS 10|date=July 5, 2016|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808181717/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/mobiles-and-tabs/050716/whatsapp-gets-accused-of-copying-features-from-imessage-in-ios-10.html|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Telecommunication|Technology|Internet|Companies}} * Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients * Comparison of user features of messaging platforms * {{Annotated link|Comparison of VoIP software}} * Criticism of Facebook * {{Annotated link|Instagram}} * List of most-downloaded Google Play applications * List of most popular social platforms
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Scholia|topic}} {{Commons category}} <!-- {{No more links}}
Please be cautious adding more external links.
Wikipedia is not a collection of links and should not be used for advertising.
Excessive or inappropriate links will be removed.
See Wikipedia:External links and Wikipedia:Spam for details.
If there are already suitable links, propose additions or replacements on the article's talk page.
--> * {{Official website}}
{{Facebook navbox}} {{Instant messaging}} {{Cryptographic software}} {{Silicon Valley}} {{Authority control}}
Category:WhatsApp Category:2009 software Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions Category:Android (operating system) software Category:Android Auto software Category:BlackBerry software Category:Communication software Category:Cross-platform software Category:End-to-end encryption Category:Instant messaging clients Category:IOS software Category:Meta Platforms acquisitions Category:Meta Platforms applications Category:Mobile applications Category:Social media Category:Software companies based in Mountain View, California Category:Symbian software Category:VoIP software