How to install Watusi for WhatsApp
Three ways to install Watusi on your iPhone. Answer three quick questions to find yours, and see what works with each before you start.
Updated
Find your way — 3 quick questions
Installing Watusi
Is your iPhone jailbroken?
How do I know?
If you followed a guide with a tool like Dopamine, palera1n or unc0ver, and you have Sileo, Zebra or Cydia on your home screen, you're jailbroken. If none of that sounds familiar, you're not — choose No. Most people aren't.
The 3 ways to install
Already know which one is yours? Go straight to it.
- Notifications · Yes
- Keeps working · Forever
- Cost · Free
- Notifications · Yes
- Keeps working · Forever
- Cost · Free
- Notifications · Through WhatsApp
- Keeps working · 7 days to 1 year, by tool
- Cost · Free to $99 a year, by tool
Compare them side by side
Sideloading works with any of three tools; they differ in cost and in how long the app keeps working.
Jailbroken
- Notifications
- Yes
- iCloud backup
- Yes
- Keeps working
- Forever
- Computer needed
- No
- Cost
- Free
TrollStore
- Notifications
- Yes
- iCloud backup
- Yes
- Keeps working
- Forever
- Computer needed
- Sometimes, to set up TrollStore
- Cost
- Free
Sideload · AltStore
- Notifications
- Through WhatsApp
- iCloud backup
- Through WhatsApp
- Keeps working
- 7 days, then refresh
- Computer needed
- Yes, Mac or PC
- Cost
- Free
Sideload · Signing service
- Notifications
- Through WhatsApp
- iCloud backup
- Through WhatsApp
- Keeps working
- About a year
- Computer needed
- No
- Cost
- About $10–20 a year
Sideload · Your own developer account
- Notifications
- Through WhatsApp
- iCloud backup
- Through WhatsApp
- Keeps working
- 1 year
- Computer needed
- Yes, a Mac
- Cost
- $99 a year
Questions people ask
Which file should I download?
Each install guide marks one file as Recommended — pick that one unless you know you need something else. The others are folded away under Other versions:
- Duplicate builds install next to the App Store WhatsApp instead of replacing it. That's what lets you keep notifications on a sideload.
- Business builds are for WhatsApp Business.
- TrollStore builds only install through TrollStore. Anywhere else they crash the moment you open them.
Will I get notifications?
With a jailbreak or TrollStore, yes.
On a sideload, WhatsApp can't receive notifications, however it's signed — it needs a permission Apple doesn't give out. That's why the sideload guide installs Watusi as a second app linked to your normal WhatsApp: the App Store WhatsApp keeps delivering notifications, and you use Watusi for everything else. See how to sideload Watusi.
Can I back up to iCloud?
With a jailbreak or TrollStore, yes. On a sideload, not from Watusi itself — but if you follow the sideload guide, your chats live in the App Store WhatsApp, which backs up to iCloud as normal.
Installed the build that replaces WhatsApp instead? Then back up manually through the Files app.
The app stops opening after 7 days. How do I keep it?
That's the free AltStore signature running out. AltStore refreshes it automatically as long as your iPhone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi and AltServer is running. Your chats are safe while it's expired.
To avoid the weekly refresh, use a signing service or your own developer account — both last about a year. See how to sideload Watusi.
Stalky, OnlineNotify or ContactSync aren't working
On the TrollStore and sideload builds they're turned off by default. Turn them on in Watusi Settings.
It's asking for an app-specific password
Your Apple ID has two-factor authentication on and the tool can't handle the six-digit code. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, create an app-specific password, and use that instead of your normal one.
AltStore is the exception: it handles two-factor codes itself.
Version history
Release notes live on the changelogs page.