WhatsApp Begins Testing Third-Party Agents on iOS but Removes End-to-End Encryption

WhatsApp Expands Third-Party Agent Testing to iOS Users

WhatsApp is testing third-party agents on iOS devices, expanding a feature that previously reached Android users in limited testing. The messaging platform rolled out the capability through WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.37.10.70 via TestFlight, according to reports from WABetaInfo published on September 221

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. The feature lets users connect external agents and interact with them directly within the app, marking a shift toward agent-based interactions beyond traditional person-to-person messaging.

Users can create and customize third-party agents through WhatsApp settings by assigning a name and profile photo. The platform then generates API keys that connect these agents to external services hosting them. Once linked, the agent operates through a dedicated one-to-one chat where it can respond to messages. WhatsApp currently allows users to create up to five agents on a single account, though this limit could change before broader availability1

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How Third-Party AI Agents Work Within WhatsApp

The setup process for external agents requires users to copy the generated API key and add it to the third-party service hosting their agent. Users can reset the API key when needed, and WhatsApp emphasizes that the key should remain private to maintain security. These third-party AI agents can include AI tools, bots, and other automated services from independent developers, and WhatsApp notes that agents do not necessarily need AI integration to function1

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Each agent accesses only information users share directly in its dedicated chat. The agents cannot access other conversations, contacts, or media stored within WhatsApp. Group chats and communities also remain outside the current agent setup, limiting the scope of agent-based interactions to individual conversations1

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Privacy Limits and Encryption Changes for Agent Chats

The most significant change involves WhatsApp's privacy protections for these conversations. Unlike regular personal chats that retain end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp explicitly states that communications with third-party agents are not end-to-end encrypted. Instead, messages reach the agent through a Meta service that manages the conversation for its provider. Agent providers can receive, process, and store messages in unencrypted form2

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This represents a departure from WhatsApp's standard privacy model and introduces new privacy limits for users. Responsibility for message handling shifts toward independent agent providers, who control their own data practices. WhatsApp indicates that providers handle requests involving access, deletion, correction, or portability of user data. Users considering chat with third-party agents should review each provider's privacy terms before sharing sensitive information, as the Meta service handling these interactions operates differently from traditional encrypted messaging2

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Limited Rollout and Future Availability

The feature is currently rolling out gradually on iOS, with access limited to a very small number of users in select countries. Availability may vary by country and user, and WhatsApp has not confirmed when the feature could become widely available. The current iOS rollout follows earlier testing on Android, suggesting the company is taking a measured approach to expanding agent-based interactions across platforms1

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The final experience could change before broader availability, as WhatsApp continues testing and refining the feature. Watch for updates on encryption policies, agent limits, and geographic availability as the platform evaluates user feedback and developer adoption of the API key system.