Even in 2025, WhatsApp still doesn’t have an official Apple Watch app, but users can receive notifications and reply to messages directly from their wrist. While Wear OS offers full WhatsApp functionality, Apple Watch users remain limited—though a few smart tricks help enhance the experience.
By default, you can’t browse past messages, start new conversations, or view multimedia like photos and videos. However, setting up notifications is simple: just open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Notifications, and enable WhatsApp alerts. Once activated, incoming messages will buzz on your wrist.
Replying is straightforward—tap the notification, select Reply, and choose from preset responses, voice dictation, or manual typing (on newer models). For those wanting to send new messages, a Shortcuts workaround still works in 2025. Developer Fabian Heuwieser’s shortcut lets you select a contact, compose a message via Siri or typing, and send it directly from the watch.
If you need more features, third-party apps like WatchChat 2 ($2.99) allow viewing chat history, sending messages, and even playing videos or stickers. Just install it on your watch, then scan the QR code via WhatsApp Web on your iPhone.
While Apple Watch support hasn’t improved much, these workarounds keep users connected without needing their phones.