Question Opening WhatsApp by tapping in the Contacts app

[maro108]

Hi,
Until today, whenever I would tap on WhatsApp Message in the Contacts app the WhatsApp would automatically open and be ready for typing in the message into the chat (see first image).
Now something has changed and I'm getting a dialog and have to tap in WhatsApp icon first to open the WhatsApp and start typing. Why is it so? What has changed? How to revert to previous automatic opening of WhatsApp?
Thanks for any help!

 

[VidJunky]

I don't think this is that unusual. Some updates remove or request updates to permissions. It looks like an update affected WhatsApp's as the default app to use for WhatsApp messages. Why would there be other apps for reading and sending WhatsApp messages, IDK, but if you pick the app you want and select always you should be back the app just opening when you make that selection.

This type of thing can also happen if you get a new app that does the same thing another app does. For instance if you only have one web browser there is only one choice for opening web pages. but if you get a second app that can also open web pages you would see a choice like the one in your image. Where the device asks which app to use than gives you the option to make this the default app.

Try selecting Always, and letting us know if this is the result you were looking for. Don't worry if this doesn't produce the result we can erase the Always and go from there.

 

[maro108]

Try selecting Always,....

Thanks for your quick response.
As you can see in the screenshot "Always" option is not available right now, only "Just once".
Any other ideas?

 

[maro108]

I tried uninstalling Podcast Addict. Then WhatsApp is automatically opening as before. After reinstalling Podcast Addict the strange behavior comes back - strange because Podcast Addict has nothing top do with messaging.

 

[VidJunky]

That's interesting. I couldn't tell from the photo that it was not selectable, but this could be a good thing.

First let's take away the default, then we can add it back and see if everything works. To remove WhatsApp as the default navigate to Settings>Apps>WhatsApp>Set as default>remove any apps you find here. This isn't permanent the next time you use an app that needs WhatsApp it will ask you and you will just say yes or no to this being the ALWAYS app. Hopefully when it asks you again in your contacts you will get the option to set it as the default.

Let us know the result.

 

[maro108]

That's interesting. I couldn't tell from the photo that it was not selectable, but this could be a good thing.

First let's take away the default, then we can add it back and see if everything works. To remove WhatsApp as the default navigate to Settings>Apps>WhatsApp>Set as default>remove any apps you find here. This isn't permanent the next time you use an app that needs WhatsApp it will ask you and you will just say yes or no to this being the ALWAYS app. Hopefully when it asks you again in your contacts you will get the option to set it as the default.

Let us know the result.

There are no other apps under the Settings>Apps>WhatsApp>Set as default> that you mentioned - see the screenshot below.
I'm using One UI version 5.1

 

[maro108]

There are no other apps under the Settings>Apps>WhatsApp>Set as default> that you mentioned - see the screenshot below.
I'm using One UI version 5.1

I updated Podcast Addict to Beta version (2025.4.2 (build 21462)) as per advice of the developer and the issue is fixed.