WhatsApp begins testing Wear OS support

One of the largest apps in the world is coming to Wear OS watches, 9to5Google and WaBetaInfo have reported. WhatsApp is now testing an app for Wear OS 3 on devices like the Galaxy Watch 5, Pixel Watch and others. It offers much of the functionality of the mobile versions, showing recent chats and contacts, while allowing you to send voice and text messages. 

To set up the app, you’ll need to have the Beta version of WhatsApp on your phone. After installing the app on your watch, it will display an eight-digit alphanumeric code that you punch in to the mobile app.

From there, a list of recent conversations will pop up, along with “Settings” and “Open on phone.” Clicking any of the conversations will bring up individual or group chats, showing messages, images sent, etc. At the bottom of each chat, you can choose to send a voice or text message, using the system keyboard for the latter. Similarly, you can view or listen to any existing or received messages. 

WhatsApp offers a circular complication that shows unread messages on your watch’s home page. There are also two tiles for contacts and voice messages, to let you quickly access people or start a voice message recording. 

It’s a significant release for Wear OS 3, offering an ultra-popular app that most people have on their phones — in turn fulfilling Google’s aim of getting more developers on the platform. To get the app, you’ll need to sign up for the WhatsApp beta and be running version 2.23.10.10+ on both your smartphone and watch.