After years of user requests and beta testing, Meta has officially released a dedicated WhatsApp app for iPad, marking a major milestone in the platform’s 16-year journey. The rollout—part of WhatsApp for iOS version 25.16.81—was confirmed on May 27, 2025, and is now available on the App Store.
Until now, iPad users had to rely on browser-based workarounds like WhatsApp Web, which lacked fluidity, device optimization, and offline usability. But that era has ended with the release of a fully native WhatsApp app, purpose-built for iPadOS.
A Feature-Rich Messaging Experience for iPad
Designed to fully harness the iPad’s capabilities, the new app introduces features tailored for tablets, including support for video and audio calls of up to 32 participants, screen sharing, and dual camera usage—leveraging both front and rear iPad cameras.
Users can now benefit from multitasking functionality such as Stage Manager, Split View, and Slide Over, enabling them to chat, video call, or share files while browsing the internet or working in other apps. For professionals and creatives, support for Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil offers a more productive and intuitive communication experience.
A Meta spokesperson called it “a fully optimised messaging experience tailored for tablets,” highlighting the app’s seamless integration with iPadOS for smarter multitasking and communication.
Strong Focus on Privacy and Cross-Device Sync
Security remains at the heart of the app. WhatsApp’s trademark end-to-end encryption ensures that messages, calls, and media shared across devices—including iPhone, Mac, and iPad—are secure and inaccessible to third parties, including Meta itself.
The app allows users to link their iPad as one of multiple devices, supporting seamless chat syncing and uninterrupted communication. This functionality builds on Meta’s “Not Even WhatsApp” privacy campaign, reinforcing its stance amid ongoing scrutiny of the parent company’s data practices.
A Long-Awaited Move Comes to Fruition
The launch follows nearly two years of testing via Apple’s TestFlight platform. Initial signs of iPad compatibility surfaced as early as September 2023 in version 23.19.1.71, fueling widespread anticipation among iPad users who’ve long considered the lack of a native app a glaring omission in WhatsApp’s otherwise expansive ecosystem.
The timing is also strategic. Just two weeks ahead of Apple’s WWDC 2025, where iPadOS 19 is expected to debut, the launch positions WhatsApp to take advantage of new software capabilities and deepen its role within Apple’s ecosystem. Rumors are already circulating that other Meta products—like Instagram—may follow with their own iPad-native apps.
Strategic and Competitive Impact
WhatsApp’s dominance in global messaging—especially across Europe, India, Latin America, and Africa—means the new iPad app will likely see rapid adoption. It also gives Meta an edge in the cross-platform messaging space, where competitors like Telegram and Signal have long offered tablet-friendly solutions.
The release includes all core WhatsApp features such as Status, app lock, and group voice chats, although some advanced tools like live voice chat in group threads may be added in later updates.
Beyond feature parity, Meta is reinforcing the app’s utility for remote teams, professional use, and educational collaboration, where the larger screen, keyboard input, and multitasking boost productivity.
Looking Ahead
As the world shifts toward cross-device flexibility, Meta’s WhatsApp iPad app is more than just a long-overdue update—it’s a strategic step to future-proof the platform. By offering full-scale messaging capabilities on a tablet, Meta is enabling users to communicate more freely, securely, and efficiently across devices.
The WhatsApp iPad app is now available for download on the App Store and stands as a major leap forward in the evolution of digital communication—finally delivering what millions of users have waited for.
