WhatsApp’s long awaited Apple Watch app launched earlier this week, but many users found it unstable on older models. Reports surfaced across Reddit describing the same pattern. The app opens for a moment and then shuts down without loading the interface. The failures appear consistent on devices running watchOS 10, particularly the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and the first-generation Apple Watch SE.
Meta confirmed the issue after we reached out for comment. The company stated that the WhatsApp product team is aware of the crashes and is working quickly to resolve them. That response signals a software level fault rather than a compatibility misunderstanding. According to WhatsApp, the app supports Apple Watch Series 4 or newer and requires watchOS 10 or later.
Table of Contents
No user workaround has been found
Users have attempted the usual troubleshooting steps, including reinstalling the app on both the watch and the iPhone, but none of these efforts have restored stability. The symptom remains the same. The app closes instantly after opening. Watches running watchOS 11 or watchOS 26 do not seem to suffer from the same behaviour, indicating that the app may be sensitive to the specific runtime conditions on watchOS 10.
Some users report a slightly unstable experience rather than a complete crash, although these cases are less frequent. So far, there is no confirmed workaround that restores full functionality. Until the update arrives, affected users will not be able to rely on the app for messaging on the watch.
What the app delivers when functioning normally
Once the app runs as intended, it provides call notifications, full message viewing, voice messages, reactions, chat history, images, and stickers directly on the watch screen. It is designed to reduce phone dependency during exercise and other hands-free situations. These features operated reliably on newer hardware during early testing.
Meta did not give a timeline for the patched release, but the confirmation suggests that the fix is a priority. Users on older supported Apple Watch models will need to wait for the next update to regain stable functionality.
