From web browsers to email clients, it's possible to replace many of Apple's default apps with better alternatives. But how ...

On your iPhone running the latest iOS 18 build, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps. Scroll to the Messaging and Calling sections. Here, choose WhatsApp as the default.

After downloading the app from the App Store (it costs $0.99), make a trip to the Settings app. Scroll down to the Apps section, choose Default Apps, tap Messaging, and switch to the DefaultSMS app.

iPhone users can now get setup so that WhatsApp is their default messaging and calling app. If your iPhone is updated to iOS 18.2 then the functionality is already available for you right now.

WhatsApp can now be selected as the default calling and messaging app on iPhone, if users so wish (via WABetaInfo). A change in the latest version of WhatsApp available on the App Store (v25.8.74 ...

While apps like 1Password quickly took advantage of these new changes, there have been few to no takers in the calling, contactless payments, and messaging categories. Enter DefaultSMS, a new app that ...

How to make WhatsApp the default app for calls and messages First, let's talk about how to make this happen. On your iPhone running the latest iOS 18 build, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.