WhatsApp announced a set of new features in July 2026, expanding its Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, enabling direct iPad account registration, and adding music sharing and in-app PDF editing.
The updated CarPlay and Android Auto experience goes beyond what was previously available. Users were already able to compose messages and place calls through their vehicle’s infotainment system, but can now also hear and reply to messages, view call history, and access favorite contacts — all hands-free from the car’s screen.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, is also allowing users to create a WhatsApp account directly on an iPad for the first time. Since launching WhatsApp for iPad last year, the company had received requests to let users register without needing to link to a phone. A phone number and one-time passcode are still required during setup, but once registered, the iPad app functions as a standalone account rather than a companion device tied to a primary phone.
Two additional features round out the update. Users can now share songs from Apple Music or Spotify directly to their WhatsApp Status, a feature the company says is intended to help users personalize their presence on the platform. WhatsApp is also enabling PDF viewing and lightweight editing — including highlighting and annotating — directly within chats, without requiring a separate download. This feature is available on the web and desktop versions of the app.
The announcement follows a series of recent updates from WhatsApp. A few weeks prior, the platform introduced usernames, allowing users to share their profiles without revealing their phone number. In late May, Meta launched WhatsApp Plus, a subscription plan offering extras such as profile customization, super reactions, and story insights, alongside similar paid tiers for Instagram and Facebook.
Together, the updates suggest WhatsApp is working to position itself as a cross-device communication platform rather than a mobile-only messaging app.
Source: TechCrunch