WhatsApp for iPhone Lets You Copy Part of a Message
If you're excited about iOS 26’s upcoming ability to copy parts of a message in Apple’s Messages app, here’s a little secret: WhatsApp on iPhone already lets you do that.
Partial Text Selection Now Available
Since version 25.16.81, WhatsApp has supported partial text selection on iPhone. That means you can highlight and copy just the specific portion of a message you need—no need to grab the entire thing.
How to use it:
- Long-press a message bubble
- Then, press and hold on the message text again
- Use the selection handles to highlight exactly what you want
- Tap Copy
This works similarly to what Apple is rolling out in iOS 26 for its own Messages app—though WhatsApp users can enjoy it today.
Part of a Bigger Update Push
This isn’t the only feature WhatsApp has added recently. The partial copy feature was spotted in beta just after:
- The launch of WhatsApp’s iPad app
- Confirmation that support for usernames is on the way
- Meta's announcement about showing ads in Status and Channels tabs
Together, these updates show a clear shift toward modernizing the app and exploring new monetization paths.
Don’t See the Feature?
If partial selection isn’t working for you yet, make sure your WhatsApp is updated to the latest version via the App Store.