WhatsApp for iPad is finally here

For years, Meta’s suite of social apps has dodged the iPad’s expansive display, leaving users resorting to workarounds for everything from messaging to photo sharing. But that’s finally shifting, thanks to the arrival of WhatsApp for iPad.

Version 25.16.81 of the app has just dropped on the App Store, quietly ushering in full iPad support. Here’s everything you need to know about WhatsApp for iPad.

WhatsApp for iPad: Everything you need to know

Despite its understated release notes, this update transforms WhatsApp into a truly native iPad experience. The app now offers a clean two-column layout, placing your chats and groups on the left and individual conversations on the right. This setup maximises the iPad’s screen real estate and feels refreshingly similar to Apple’s own Messages app.

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WhatsApp for iPad also supports multitasking features that iPadOS users expect, including Split View, Slide Over, and Picture in Picture. That means you can keep conversations alive while sketching, browsing, or multitasking with other apps.

It also delivers familiar features like end-to-end encrypted messages, voice and video calls with up to 32 participants, and the ability to share your screen during calls. And yes, if you use a Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil, WhatsApp on iPad supports those too.

What’s next for Meta on iPad?

WhatsApp’s long-overdue arrival on iPad hints at bigger things to come from Meta. While Instagram for iPad is still missing, despite recent buzz about its development, this move suggests it might not be far behind. After all, Meta’s long-standing aversion to iPadOS seems to be finally softening.

It’s a quiet rollout, but a significant shift. After years of waiting, iPad users can finally bring their global chats to the big screen.