Over the months, Apple has been complying with the European DMA (Digital Markets Act) by unlocking its iOS ecosystem. This regulation, in effect since March 2024, notably requires GAFAM to remove some barriers to allow more competition. For Apple, which had finally delivered an initial positive assessment of the effects of the DMA, this was, for example, materialized by the choice of the default browser selection from iOS 17.4 (that said, Chrome had already been an alternative to Safari since iOS 14).
At the end of March 2025, we are at iOS 18, and the liberation continues. iPhone users now have the opportunity to choose WhatsApp as their default third-party app for calls and messages.
For Meta fans
This information was relayed by WABetaInfo. As the screenshot of the X below shows, with WhatsApp beta for iOS (version 25.8.10.74), the application is added to the list of default options for the above-mentioned categories.
To change the default calling and texting app, the procedure is not very complicated. Just go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps. In the one dedicated to In the Messaging section and in the other one for Calls, WhatsApp is among the alternatives (provided you have the latest version installed).
Once the change is validated, the iPhone will immediately offer the application selected by default when the user presses the phone button or the message button in various scenarios. Keep in mind that WhatsApp requires an internet connection to function.
An alternative among others
Although originally, opening to other default apps on iOS is part of the changes required by the European Union, Apple has generalized it to the entire globe (with a few exceptions, such as payment systems). This initiative also applies to default phone and messaging apps.
Finally, while WhatsApp and calling/messaging apps are the main subjects of this paper, they are naturally not the only application proposed nor the only areas concerned. For calling apps, Zoom is also an alternative. On the other hand, Starting with iOS 18.2, users have the power to set default apps for the email client, password manager, and, as mentioned above, the web browser. In fact, thanks to DMA, Firefox has gained popularity on iPhones in France and Germany.
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