How To Get WhatsApp On iPad
WhatsApp is an incredibly popular iPhone app that connects over a billion active members around the world every day. It allows you to send messages to friends or groups of friends over Wi-Fi or 4G/5G and save on your phone bill. (Of course you may be paying for data if you go over your limit, so don’t be silly!)
The sad thing is that WhatsApp is only available for iPhone. There is no version of the app for the iPad (or iPod touch).
But don’t despair. In this tutorial we will show you how to use WhatsApp on iPad with WhatsApp Web. This service connects to the WhatsApp account on your iPhone (or Android device) and forwards the messages to your iPad, allowing you to send and receive messages, images, and videos. It’s not quite native WhatsApp on the iPad, but it’s the second best.
WhatsApp for iPad release date
While there is currently no version of WhatsApp on the iPad, there could be one. In August 2021, the news came out that a
Whatsapp app for iPad is coming with a project to bring the messaging app to iPad (and Android tablets) in development.
In January 2022, WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart acknowledged in an interview that people had been asking for an iPad app for a long time. Cathcart revealed that much of the infrastructure to develop an iPad app is already in place, but he made no immediate promises.
Since then, reports have emerged suggesting that WhatsApp for iPad will be released with multi-device support. WABetaInfo tweeted in May 2022 that: “Multiple devices 2.0 will allow people to link an additional mobile phone or tablet (WhatsApp for iPad/Android tablet) to the same WhatsApp account in the future.”
Maybe 2022 will be the year Whatsapp comes to iPad, and Mac for that matter! Read our separate tutorial on using WhatsApp on a Mac.
How to get WhatsApp on iPad
Follow these steps to get WhatsApp on an iPad:
- Open Safari on your iPad and go to web.whatsapp.com. As long as you’re running iPadOS 13 or later, the correct desktop version of WhatsApp Web will load automatically.
- Those with iOS 12 and earlier will be directed to the WhatsApp home page instead. To fix this, tap and hold the refresh button to the right of the website address. After a second or two, tap the option that appears that says “Load desktop site.”
- You will now see the familiar WhatsApp web interface, complete with a QR code to pair with your iPhone. Open the iPhone’s settings, go to WhatsApp Web and scan the code to pair the two devices.
- The page should now load and display all of your recent WhatsApp messages, along with any media or voice memos.
Keep in mind that there are a few limitations when using this workaround. Most importantly, unlike when the service is used on a Mac or PC, notifications from web browsers are not supported on iOS/iPadOS. You will not be notified of new messages.
However, aside from that and a few minor bugs, the service is quite easy to use and a great alternative for WhatsApp users who would like to access the service on iPad.
WhatsApp Web is a free and easy way to access the WhatsApp service on your iPad. While you don’t get notifications (like you would when using the service on Mac or PC), it’s a great way to easily access your messages on a tablet.
Are you moving from Android to iPhone and want to take your WhatsApp messages with you? Read: How to move WhatsApp messages from Android to iPhone.