Whatsapp BUG since iOS26 iPhone 15 Pro

The issue will be resolved once WhatsApp developers release a version that fixes the issue they created. In the last 5 days WhatsApp has had 3 updates, one just 2 hours ago. Please update your app and see if it’s fixed.

I want to update my case: I had the issue that during a WhatsApp call on iOS 26.0.1 I could not go back or navigate to other chats because the call banner covered the back arrow.

I managed to solve it by uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp (I made an iCloud backup first to avoid losing my chats). After reinstalling, I can now navigate normally during calls.

This may be a temporary workaround until Apple or WhatsApp release an official fix.

This is a user to user only forum, NOT Apple Support. And Apple doesn't own WhatsApp, so even if Apple wanted to fix an issue with WhatsApp, they can't do that. Contact Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp for help.

ursula274 wrote:

Whatsapp was working perfectly fine until iOS26. Something directly related to the iOS upgrade messed up Whatsapp! If Apple has nothing to do with it how is it that upgrading their iOS interfered with the third party app?

Even if Apple wanted to fix the bugs in WhatsApp, they simply can't. Apple doesn't own the app, nor have access to the code in the app. You are blaming the wrong entity here. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp has some of the buggiest apps out there. They have to release app updates multiple times per month.

WhatsApp is not an Apple product.

Contact WhatsApp for support.

Apple, please, fix your bugs ASAP!

Why are you blaming Apple for broken third party software?

As already mentioned, you need to contact Meta for issues with their app.

WhatsApp have had months to update their app for full compatibility with iOS 26. It is not up to Apple to maintain 3rd party apps.

Go complain to WhatsApp support.

It’s not Apple’s responsibility to make an operating system the works with millions of different apps. It would be impossible, to say the least. The OS is made by Apple and software developers must follow the guidelines and rules Apple publishes about app development for iOS compatibility. If the developer doesn’t update their apps, they become broken and they are the developers responsibility to update and make compliant. Apps are copyrighted by the developers and Apple can’t fix the apps for the developers.

Jeff, I can confirm the latest update from WhatsApp (25.28.74) still has the same issue, running iOS 26.0.1 on 17Pro. I also reached out to WhatsApp Support team regarding this issue but guess what... Meta puts the blame on iOS26. I think these days, we deal a lot with AI robot replying to reported bugs/ broken functionality and Meta definitely uses this method to the max! Instead of trying to replicate the issue and figuring out what actually may cause the issue, they rely heavily on their AI engine to reply to you within minutes! (I don't mind a quick reply but I guess I am an old-school and much prefer a previous version of WhatsApp before Meta's ownership, in which the reply was typed in by the actual support team member/software developer who knows what he/she was talking about). At the end of the day, as a WhatsApp user I can only do what I can to report the issue and maybe if there's enough number of users experiencing the same problem/issue & report it, WhatsApp support team might listen? (or Maybe iOS developers? - I am not sure).

Below is the response from WA Support via my email:

##- WhatsApp Support -##

This message is generated by AI and may be inaccurate or inappropriate. Answers from AI can be checked in the Help Center (https://faq.whatsapp.com/1083092416402722).

--

I apologize for the inconvenience you're experiencing with WhatsApp on your iPhone 17 Pro with the latest iOS 26.0.1 and WhatsApp version 2.25.26.72. The issue you're describing, where you can't access the list of chats while on a call, seems to be related to the iOS rather than WhatsApp itself.

I would recommend trying to reboot your phone (turn it off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on) to see if that resolves the issue. If the problem persists, you may want to consider updating to the latest iOS version, as Apple often releases bug fixes and feature improvements in their latest iOS version. You can update your iOS by going to **iPhone Settings** > **General** > **Software Update**.

If the issue continues to persist after updating to the latest iOS, I suggest contacting Apple Support for additional assistance, as this appears to be an iOS-related issue rather than a WhatsApp issue.

Learn more in these Help Center articles.

* How to fix issues with WhatsApp call links (https://faq.whatsapp.com/335663222921532/?locale=en_US)

* Can’t make WhatsApp voice calls (https://faq.whatsapp.com/490531153094849/?locale=en_US)

* Fix incorrect timestamps on messages (https://faq.whatsapp.com/529932872293332/?locale=en_US)

It is up to every iOS app developer to keep up with iOS updates and make sure their apps work correctly.

App developers have had access to developer versions of iOS 26 for several months now.

Ursula, that is exactly why this has happened. Before ios26 WhatsApp worked fine, then after ios26 Whatsapp does not work, that is because Whatsapp have not upgraded their system. Every developer has to upgrade, it is not an Apple responsibility.

I want to report that since updating my iPhone 15 Pro to iOS 26.0.1, I have exactly the same issue other users have described: whenever I’m on a WhatsApp call (either on speaker or using AirPods), I cannot navigate to other chats. The screen is stuck on the active conversation, and the back arrow is covered by the call interface.

This never happened before updating to iOS 26. I already tried updating WhatsApp, restarting the iPhone, but the problem persists.

It’s important that both Apple and WhatsApp acknowledge this issue, because it seriously limits the everyday use of the app. Perhaps a reasonable reccomendation would be: until this bug is fixed, users do not update to iOS 26 if they need to use WhatsApp for calls while also consulting other chats.

Did you verify that you were using the same version of WhatsApp on the iPhone 13 that was working fine? WhatsApp has been updated with 12 different versions in just the last month and many of those updates have included bugs. This has been seen over and over again where an update will resolve a bug and introduce 2 more, that requires another update and the cycle continues. It is a sign that very little in-house testing is being done before releasing updates and the users are the actual bug testers. That update schedule averages out to an update every 2 and a half days.

I also have the same problem.

but don’t know how to resolve it.

Whatsapp BUG since iOS26 iPhone 16 ProMax

If I'm on a Whatsapp call, the box with the call info covers the arrow that allowed me to go back to other chats. The same happens if you are on a call and you dare to open a picture that is in the chat. You cannot leave the photo and go back to the chat since the arrow again is covered.

😰😰