I bought an iPad so that I could have an entree into the Apple/ios environment. Everything else for me is Windows, Chrome, Google and Android. But WhatsApp is a key part of my work. I can’t find an app for WhatsApp on iOS - is it not usable on iPad?
iPad mini 6, iPadOS 16
The WhatApp developers have not released an App compatible with iPad - the App being currently limited to iPhone.
Whilst the App is not available for iPad - you should be able to access the service using a web browser:
If you would like to see a compatible App for iPad, you'll need to ask the WhatsApp Developer to create one:
Apple has no restrictions. Meta owns WhatsApp. It is 100% their decision over whether WhatsApp is available on any specific platform. As they make no money from WhatsApp perhaps they believe it’s not worth the investment. But they are the ones you have to contact; no one in this user-to-user forum can make it happen, and Apple can’t make it happen.
kong174 wrote:
WhatsApp for my iPod
Meta, in their wisdom, have chosen not to provide WhatsApp for iPad. Contact WhatsApp support and tell them you want it.
GaelUS wrote:
I have sms and phone on my iPad, but no whatsApp.
Meta, in their wisdom, have chosen not to provide WhatsApp for iPad. Contact WhatsApp support and tell them you want it.
ariz121 wrote:
Pls l want WhatsApp
Meta, in their wisdom, have chosen not to provide WhatsApp for iPad. Contact WhatsApp support and tell them you want it.
perezdr20 wrote:
Without knowing any technical details, my opinion is that WhatsApp missing on the iPad is just an Apple decision for now.
How is Whatsapp's (Facebook/Meta) failure to write an app for iPadOS Apple's decision?
You should also look at the post immediately above yours.
methusela wrote:
Given that there are numerous aftermarket Apps for Ipad which work, but have annoying adverts, all the talk about iPad not supporting sms (which it does, as people send me text messages to my phone number, which I receive via iMessage on my wifi only iPad air3), seems both wrong, and irrelevant.
You'll need to take this up with WhatsApp. Apple has no control over what devices Whatsapp does or does not support.
Read the faq at Whatsapp support site carefully:
"We don’t support setting up new accounts on WiFi ONLY devices."
It said WiFi only iPadOS devices but not cellular version (WiFi+GSM) of iPad with SIM card slot (there are two versions of iPad all along).
Thus with cellular iPad you still able to receive standard SMS message even from non-Apple devices. The only thing you can't do is to make phone call even with cellular iPad.
Anyway as other posters have pointed out, SMS messaging capability is not required for What's App as communication can always be routed through Internet networking just like in iMessage app on iPad.
Many early developers do not want to take trouble to unify user interface design in XCode development environment between iPhone and iPad (the base code can remain the same). Interface builder module in XCode (later versions but not earlier ones) takes care of differences between iPhone and iPad pretty well thus extra effort is not much. I am surprise that even Meta such big company does not want to do it (not profitable or incompetent ?).
janjeewa wrote:
All iPads are capable of receiving SMS (regular SMS and iMessage). Therefore, this is not a valid reason for iPads not to have WhatsApp. On the contrary, Macs have WhatsApp - fully functional even with calling / video calling capability!!
No, iPads are only capable of receiving messages transferred from an iPhone. They are not capable of receiving actual SMS messages. Regardless, WhatsApp is still not supported on the iPad.
张赚龙 wrote:
Once Apple opens this Whatsapp on iPad, I believe more users would move to Apple ecosystem.
Once APPLE opens WhatsApp?! You do realize that WhatsApp is a META product, and Apple has ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER META’S DECISIONS OR PLANS!
Apple isn’t blocking WhatsApp, as evidenced by the fact that WhatsApp IS available for Macs and iPhones.
张赚龙 wrote:
I don’t think that this is a satisfying or even smart answer, relating the iPad’s ability to have a Whatsapp connnected to an SMS or call issue. Other devices not having SMS such as Mac, Macbook, and other android tabs, do have Whatsapp available. Once Apple opens this Whatsapp on iPad, I believe more users would move to Apple ecosystem.
Meta acquired WhatsApp a decade ago.
As for alternatives not involving SMS, Signal has a better reputation than the somewhat contentious Meta WhatsApp service. And Apple has their iMessage, of course.
But should you want Meta WhatsApp to add more clients for more platforms, do suggest that to Meta.
Meta seemingly are aware of interest in iPad, based on various press reports:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/19/23880855/whatsapp-ipad-app-beta
Of course, this all pending any potential future WhatsApp ownership changes, that is.
No you need to have an iPhone for WhatsApp. It's not an iPad app
WhatsApp doesn’t support the iPad because it doesn’t have sms.
It is entirely up to WhatsApp what they support or don’t.
It has nothing to do with Apple, the iPad or iOS.
Your faith in WhatsApp should be diminished
Andrew Denny2 wrote:
Certainly my android tablet has whatsapp.
And that has to do with the way Whatsapp has written the Android apps. Only Whatsapp would know why they have not made it possible on an iPad.
Given that there are numerous aftermarket Apps for Ipad which work, but have annoying adverts, all the talk about iPad not supporting sms (which it does, as people send me text messages to my phone number, which I receive via iMessage on my wifi only iPad air3), seems both wrong, and irrelevant.
I am reluctantly forced to use one of these 3rd party Apps, as some tourist booking companies are using WhatsApp to confirm bookings, even when emailed, and advising on their website that they will send written confirmation by email. (****** annoying, as printing out a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation is not a great way to prove your identity and a booking on the roadside pickup point to a tour operator.)
Ask WhatsApp why they have not released a version for iPad?
It is the developer's choice what devices and what OS they
will support.
You may wish to start with this link:
Is WhatsApp supported on iPad?
