WhatsApp finally arrives on iPad after 16 years of waiting

Meta has officially released a native WhatsApp app for the iPad, ending a 16-year wait for a dedicated tablet version of the world’s most popular messaging platform. Announced today, May 27, 2025, the new app, available on the App Store as part of WhatsApp for iOS version 25.16.81, introduces a suite of features optimised for iPadOS, including video and audio calls for up to 32 participants, screen sharing, and support for both front and rear cameras.

The launch marks a significant expansion of WhatsApp’s ecosystem, offering iPad users a seamless and secure messaging experience previously limited to the web-based version accessed through browsers.

The WhatsApp iPad app leverages iPadOS multitasking capabilities such as Stage Manager, Split View, and Slide Over, enabling users to engage in conversations while simultaneously using other apps. For example, users can browse the web, plan group trips during a call, or manage multiple tasks without switching away from WhatsApp, a limitation on mobile devices. The app also supports Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, enhancing productivity for users who rely on these accessories for work or creative tasks.

“The iPad app delivers a fully optimised messaging experience tailored for tablets,” said a Meta spokesperson, emphasising the app’s integration with iPadOS features to boost efficiency and user experience.

Privacy remains a cornerstone of the new app, with WhatsApp maintaining its commitment to end-to-end encryption for all personal messages, calls, and media shared across devices, including iPhone, Mac, and now iPad. This ensures that only the sender and recipient can access communications, protecting against interception by third parties, including Meta, internet providers, or hackers.

The app syncs seamlessly across linked devices, allowing users to pick up conversations where they left off without compromising security. Meta’s focus on encryption aligns with its broader “Not Even WhatsApp” campaign, launched earlier in May 2025, which promotes the app’s privacy features amid ongoing scepticism about Meta’s data practices.

After about two years of beta testing, WhatsApp on iPad is here

The release follows nearly two years of beta testing via Apple’s TestFlight program, with version 23.19.1.71 introducing iPad compatibility in September 2023. Until now, iPad users relied on workarounds like WhatsApp Web, which lacked the fluidity and security of a native app.

The absence of a dedicated iPad app had been a notable gap in WhatsApp’s offerings, especially given its 3 billion global users and dominance in regions like Europe, India, and Africa, where it often serves as the default messaging platform.

Meta’s timing is strategic, coming two weeks before Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, set for June 9, where iPadOS 19 and other software updates will be unveiled. While the launch is independent of WWDC, speculation suggests potential integrations or announcements that could further enhance WhatsApp’s role in Apple’s ecosystem. The move also aligns with Meta’s broader push to strengthen its presence on iPad, with reports indicating that Instagram, another Meta-owned platform, is developing its own iPad app.

The iPad app includes features already familiar to WhatsApp users, such as the Status feature, app lock, and group voice chats, though some newer functionalities, like live voice chat accessed by swiping up in group conversations, may not be immediately available.

Meta has also introduced recent enhancements across its platforms, including advanced chat privacy settings to block unauthorised chat exports and integration with fact-checking organisations to combat misinformation, a persistent challenge for the app during critical events like elections. These updates reflect Meta’s efforts to balance innovation with user trust, especially following accusations from figures like Elon Musk about data privacy concerns.

The app’s launch is expected to drive broader iPad adoption among professionals and groups relying on WhatsApp for communication, particularly in regions where it dominates over traditional SMS.

Available now for download, the WhatsApp iPad app represents a major step in Meta’s strategy to enhance cross-device functionality while reinforcing its commitment to privacy and security.