WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that lets you receive, and in some cases start, messages from other messaging apps without leaving WhatsApp. Not because Mark Zuckerberg woke up feeling generous, but because the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is forcing the biggest “gatekeeper” platforms to stop acting like private fiefdoms.
The idea is simple: if you’re stuck on WhatsApp because your family group chat, your kid’s soccer coach, and your boss all live there, you shouldn’t have to drag everyone to a new app just to switch. Europe wants messaging to work more like email, Gmail can talk to Outlook, no drama.
Europe’s Digital Markets Act is prying WhatsApp open
WhatsApp says it has more than3 billion usersacross180+ countries. That kind of scale doesn’t just make you popular, it makes you a target for regulators who think “network effects” is a polite term for “soft captivity.”
The DMA is aimed squarely at that captivity. For messaging, the headline requirement isinteroperability: the ability to exchange messages across different services without forcing people to install yet another app.
For Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, this is a tightrope act. They’ve got to publish technical details and allow outside services in, while still selling WhatsApp’s core pitch: secure, simple, end-to-end encrypted communication. And yes, opening the doors also opens the windows, spam, sketchy integrations, and mismatched encryption standards are all part of the fun.
Also, don’t get carried away. This isn’t some grand kumbaya merger of every chat app on Earth. WhatsApp is only allowing messages from alimited list of “compatible” apps, under specific technical conditions. And the rollout is gradual, meaning what you see depends on your country, your device, and which version of WhatsApp you’re running.
How to turn on third-party chats on iPhone and Android
To enable it, you’ll dig into WhatsApp’s settings, slightly different paths depending on your phone.
OniPhone, you get there via theprofile iconat the bottom right. OnAndroid, you’ll hit thethree-dot menuat the top. Either way, you’re headed into theAccountsection, where WhatsApp keeps the sensitive stuff.
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InsideAccount, there’s a new option forthird-party chats. Flip it on, and WhatsApp will typically show an explainer screen spelling out what you’re allowing, especially how incoming requests from outside services might appear.
Here’s the guardrail: WhatsApp says this only works with third-party apps that meet its criteria. During setup, you’ll see a list of compatible services and can choose which ones you’ll accept messages from. That’s WhatsApp trying to avoid turning “interoperability” into “welcome to the world’s biggest spam funnel.”
You also get to decide how these outside conversations show up: either in acombined inboxwith your regular WhatsApp chats, or in aseparate space. Combined is cleaner. Separate is smarter if you don’t want random external threads mixed in with your family photos and work logistics.
Change your mind later? You can go back, reorganize, tweak which services are allowed, or shut the whole thing off.
First compatible apps: BirdyChat and Haiket, no Signal (yet)
Here’s the part that’ll make a lot of people blink: early versions of this feature reportedly show onlyBirdyChatandHaiketas compatible third-party services.
If you were expecting the big names,Signal,Telegram, you’re not alone. But interoperability isn’t a magic switch. It requires technical alignment, security testing, and compliance with specs. A major app might hold back because it doesn’t like the terms, doesn’t trust Meta, or doesn’t want to spend engineering time playing nice on WhatsApp’s turf.
WhatsApp also has an obvious incentive to start small. A limited pilot lets them watch what happens to moderation, spam volume, and overall stability before opening the floodgates. If they flipped on broad interoperability overnight, they’d be signing up for a customer-support and abuse-prevention nightmare.
For users, the practical value depends on whether anyone you actually know uses the compatible apps. If your circle isn’t on BirdyChat or Haiket, this feature is a demo. If you work in a niche where a specific service is common, centralizing messages inside WhatsApp could cut down on app-hopping.
Whether the heavyweight apps join later will come down to technical requirements, business strategy, and how aggressively the EU enforces the DMA.
Notifications and starting a third-party chat from the Chats tab
Once enabled, WhatsApp lets you fine-tunenotificationsso you can get alerts specifically for incoming third-party messages, or keep them quieter if you’re testing the waters and don’t want your phone buzzing all day.
To start an external conversation, you’ll do it from theChatstab. Tap thePlusbutton at the top right, then choose something likeNew third-party chat. WhatsApp will prompt you to pick a compatible service and then select a recipient or start the thread based on what that integration supports.
WhatsApp’s design goal here is obvious: make it feel like you never left WhatsApp, even when the message is headed to another service. That’s the whole point, people are tired of juggling apps, settings, and notification chaos.
But centralizing everything has tradeoffs. A combined inbox is convenient, but it can blur context, personal, work, community groups, especially if you’re not paying attention to where a message originated. A separate view adds one extra tap, but keeps your sanity intact.
And don’t expect feature parity right away. Early interoperability usually focuses on basic text messaging and contact handling. Stuff like certain attachments, reactions, or status features may not carry over cleanly at first.
FAQ
How do I enable third-party chats in WhatsApp on iPhone or Android?
Go to WhatsAppSettings→Account→Third-party chats(wording may vary). On iPhone, enter via the profile icon bottom right; on Android, use the three-dot menu. Turn it on, pick allowed services, and choose combined or separate display.
Which apps work with WhatsApp interoperability?
It depends on rollout and version. Some users see onlyBirdyChatandHaiket. Big names like Signal or Telegram may not appear early because integration requires technical and policy alignment.
Can I get a special alert when a third-party message arrives?
Yes. WhatsApp includes notification settings specifically for third-party chats, so you can control how loud, or quiet, this new channel is.
