WhatsApp is now available on iPad.
The most popular messaging service on the planet, with 1.5 billion people relying on the chat app every day, has finally launched a native iPad app. WhatsApp predates the release of the first iPad by one year.
WhatsApp made its debut on iPhone back in November 2009, with support for BlackBetter and Android arriving in August 2010. The team released a version of chat app for Windows and Mac in 2016, so laptop and desktop PC owners could send and receive text messages, voice and video calls, and documents without reaching for their smartphone.
WhatsApp even rebuilt its chat app for macOS from the ground up in August 2023 to take advantage of the improvements from Apple Silicon — the custom-designed chipsets that now power every Mac in the lineup.
It's taken 16 years, but parent company Meta has finally launched a native app for iPad
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But in all that time — 16 years for those counting — WhatsApp has never offered an iPad app. If you were using one of these bestselling tablets from Apple and wanted to reply to a text message, iPad owners had to login to WhatsApp Web in the web browser, a workaround that didn't support some of the best features of this messaging service.
WhatsApp, which is now available to download on iPad via the App Store, includes native notifications, access to features previously unavailable through the web version, and a user interface optimised for your tablet's larger screen.
The long-awaited chat app supports video and audio calls with up to 32 people, allowing you to use both your iPad's front and rear cameras during conversations. You can share your screen with other participants and take advantage of iPadOS features like Split View, Slide Over and Stage Manager to multitask while chatting.
WhatsApp on iPad will be immediately familiar to anyone who has used the iPhone app for years
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If you've got friends and family who aren't available to contact on FaceTime, the launch of a native WhatsApp app on iPad should make video calls much easier — no matter what device you've got in your hands when a call comes in
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The team at Meta has worked hard to ensure several iPad features are supported, including the ability to run multiple apps side-by-side for PC-like multi-tasking on the tablet
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If you use a Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil with your iPad, the team at WhatsApp has ensured both work seamlessly.
The split-screen layout displays your contacts on the left and conversations on the right, making full use of your tablet's screen real estate. Your messages, calls and media remain protected by end-to-end encryption across all your devices, ensuring that even WhatsApp cannot access your private communications.
Meta has confirmed this is "only the start for WhatsApp on iPad" and welcomes user feedback for future development.
While iPad users celebrate this long-awaited arrival, you'll need to wait a little longer if you want a dedicated Instagram app for your tablet. Whispers suggest Meta is working on it, but after 15 years of using a resized iPhone app, there's no confirmed timeline for its release.
Adverts will allow business and content creators to increase their rankings in the list of Channels available within your app. Ads will also play in between Stories, a feature that's already live in Instagram Stories WHATSAPP PRESS OFFICE The launch on iPad isn't the only shake-up announced for the chat app in recent weeks.
Parent company Meta (née Facebook) has also introduced advertising to WhatsApp for the first time in its history, breaking a pledge made by WhatsApp's co-founders.
You'll now see adverts when viewing Status updates from friends and family, similar to Instagram Stories, and businesses can pay to promote their Channels within your app.
The company assures users that personal messages, calls and groups won't be used to determine which advertisements you see. Your phone number won't be sold or shared with advertisers, and private communications remain end-to-end encrypted.
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