Garmin watches finally get WhatsApp. Yes, you can reply from your wrist now
Proper messaging finally lands on Garmin wearables
Garmin watches have always been great at tracking your runs, your sleep, and your questionable life choices – hence why they tend to make our list of the best fitness trackers. But when it comes to replying to messages, they lag behind. Or at least, they did. Now, Garmin has announced an official WhatsApp app for select smartwatches, letting you read and reply to messages directly from your wrist.
Unlike the basic notification mirroring Garmin users have been stuck with for years, this is a proper app built in collaboration with Meta. Available now for free via the Connect IQ Store, the app lets you view recent chats, read messages, and reply using a built-in keyboard, emojis, or quick reactions.
You can also see incoming WhatsApp calls and decline them, all without pulling your phone out of your pocket. Chats show a short history too, with up to 10 messages visible on-screen.
It’s a fairly big shift for Garmin. Until now, most of its watches have treated messaging apps as passive alerts – useful, but not exactly interactive. According to Garmin’s release, this makes WhatsApp the first proper third-party messaging app available on its devices.
As for compatibility, it’s limited to select newer models across the Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, and Vivoactive ranges, along with a handful of lines like Tactix and Enduro. If you’ve got a recent Garmin watch, though, there’s a decent chance you’re covered.
There are a couple of small caveats, mind. You’ll still need your phone nearby with WhatsApp installed, and you’ll want to make sure Bluetooth permissions are enabled for everything to work properly. But once you’re set up, you can enjoy keeping on top of WhatsApp notifications and messages, directly from your wrist.
Esat Dedezade
Contributor 
