In WhatsApp, the message actions menu, which includes reactions, disappears before you can interact with it if using VoiceOver

This being one of the biggest accessibility breaks for Whatsapp. I found out a few more really alarming challenges with the behavior of the application with IOS 26 on my iPhone 12 with Voice Over. Up/ Down Swipe gesture to mark message as read, does not work, message still shows as unread but does not show when filtered to unread. Open image/ video file and swipe right to actions that you can take to the media i.e. react, reply, share, play/ pause buttons are totally not readable or labelled correctly which makes me suspect that that might be a Whatsapp accessibility issue but it used to work I mean read proper earlier to IOS 26

I am no longer a huge user of the app, but could it be something that Whatsapp did in a recent update in order to get ready for iOS 26?

In my Opinion this is iOS it worked in earlier builds.

Hi all,

Just to let y'all know that a WhatsApp update has been released and the reactions issue has been fixed. I tested it earlier and you can once again we react to a message.

I have installed the update but still no dice.

Checked the app store this morning but there was no update for Whatsapp IOS 26, iPhone 12. Guess I will wait this out and I have sent the Feedback to them from the Help and Support menu under the Settings Tab. Have a good one you all!

The reactions are still not working, after the latest update. Even worse, you can't enable them when screen recognition is turned on.

IOS 26, iPhone 12 checked the app store; no update what next? Where did you get the update for Whatsapp from?

If this is the update that came out on September 16 it is not fixed. If there is a later update I certainly don't have it. awaiting others comments.

Correct, it is not fixed and I commented asking where are they getting the update from? I did not get any update today or yesterday. Reaction still broken HTH

The latest whatsap version is: WhatsApp Messenger, Today, Version 25.25.74 • 230,5 MB

The reacting issue atleast for me in the latest version doesn't fix it"
I have tried but the issue is not fixed.
Would people reccommend uninstalling and re-installing the app?

Still nothing changed here, iPhone 12 IOS 26 unable to react to messages. How does one get the Apple feedback #

Hello. This whats app bug is still not fixed on my end using iPhone 15 and VO enabled. It is hit or miss; I do see a menu pop up with the like reaction however than it disappears. This is with the limited sight I do have. Hopefully this is fixed with the iOS 26.0.1 update. :)

It disappears before I could do anything even with explore by touch.

I just attempted to access the message reactions et cetra, and was able to with no issue. I am on Whatsapp version: 25.25.74. For those who don't have this latest update, you might want to check for it as it seems to have fixed the issue for me. You can do this with the following steps.
1. Go to AppStore and the today tab.
2. Click on my account.
3. Swipe down with 3 fingers until voiceover says: "Refreshing". Your apps should now show the latest updates available.
I hope this helps.

This is not fixed.

Sorry to hear that. It seems to be working fine on my end?
Have you checked for updates as suggested? The update was released on 17th September.

Running the latest build. Also, others are reporting it isn't fixed. VoiceOver will say the reaction, but it quickly disappears.

Hello,
A fix for this issue is on the way in the next WhatsApp update. This has just been confirmed by one of the WhatsApp accesssibility team members.

Source: https://mastodon.social/@[email protected]/115250106085611689

Thank you for the update, it's strange that they would announce it on Mastodon of all the places. Have a good one!

I got this mail ID from the application Settings/ Help and Support and surprised they have listed accessibility as one of the support topics. Please note this reaction issue is just one issue, identified another one. In the chats list on the top right hit the more button and select the option select chats and select the chats you want to delete. After selecting the chats towards the bottom you should get options like reply, archive and delete. All of them are reading as dimmed i.e. disabled but they are actually not. Let me know if you are also having the same experience. This experience is also witnessed on when opening an image/ video and wanting to share it. iPhone 12 IOS 26.

To report accessibility-related issues or share suggestions, you can contact us at [email protected].

Hello,
Don't take this as an official announcement, it hasn't been announced by WhatsApp on social media, or something like that. It's just a community member who works there notifying us via his personal account that a fix is on the way.

I have just updated to version 25.26.72, and this is not yet fixed. At least this is the latest version I have on my Iphone here in South Africa. I updated today.

On version 25.26.72, I can double tap and hold on a message and give a thumbs up after waiting for a while. The menu doesn't disappear. I can also use the rotor and flick down to "react" and do it, just tested.

Dear WhatsApp Support Team, Thank you for your prompt response. I have managed to capture a video demonstrating the issue with reacting to messages on WhatsApp using VoiceOver on my iPhone 12 with iOS 26. You can find the video link below: WhatsApp, the reactions disappears before you can interact with it if using VoiceOver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQpcYP1cnQQ In addition to the message reactions issue, I would like to bring to your attention two other significant accessibility bugs I have encountered in the WhatsApp iOS application. These issues relate to the inconsistent state reporting of action buttons within the app, which can cause confusion and difficulty for users relying on screen readers. The issues are: 1. Dimmed/Disabled State in Chat Selection Menu: When selecting chats to delete, the action buttons (archive, reply, and delete) are read as "dimmed" by VoiceOver, indicating they are disabled, even though they are fully functional. 2. Dimmed/Disabled State in Image/Video Sharing Menu: When viewing an image or video full-screen, the sharing options are read as "dimmed" or disabled, causing confusion and difficulty for users trying to share content. iOS 26 WhatsApp Bug: Dimmed Buttons with VoiceOver https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ErzIwBYmSbI I appreciate your attention to these important matters and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Not fixed as of the version that is out currently we'll see if it gets fixed.

After sending the mail I pasted in my comment, they are asking where are the video demonstrations? I mean seriously? replied back to them that they have been uploaded on Youtube and can be viewed there. Is anyone experiencing a difficulty in accessing the video demonstration videos on Youtube? If yes, please let me know I will rectify this

It is terrible I got the same kind of responses. I can't repeat what I said after being nice at first. Very frustrating.

I was warned but I still have faith that their ignorance will stop some day. That is why I requested everyone on this thread to send them the issue report in the best way they can. Feel free to use my mail as a template if you are running out of time, just personalize it so that they don't look like a copy

Dear all, in my earlier comment, I did share with you the mail I sent to Whatsapp support asking/ seeking help on this bug. Unfortunately, the good people they are did not even acknowledge my mail but instead asked me my number from which I was using the Whatsapp service. I found this to be very creepy and I did not share my PI with them. Can I seek support of all those here to write that support team a mail I want them to be spammed with the issue. Sorry I do not have their mail ID handy but if you go to the settings tab on Whatsapp, below you will find Help and Support and a section to contact them for accessiblity issues like they actually care

Just thought I would ask, has anybody updated their iPhones to iOS 26.0 one? Just wondering if it might as well as fixing the VoiceOver bug in the previous thread and also fixes the WhatsApp bug, just a thought.

I got the same response as Mr. Cane. I gave a very thorough bug report. They sent me the same response. I thought the "NFB" had such a "good relationship with Meta why aren't these issues being caught and fixed prior to release? I'll tell you why there is most likely no testing going on prior to release.

This is fixed as of
Version 25.27.72

Note this fixes the issue. I've tested it with a few conversations. I stand by my earlier statement with regards to the NFB. They aren't making meaningful changes. An issue like this shouldn't have gone out the door. They still haven't gotten Meta to resolve their Face Book issues. So again I ask What is the NFB doing?

Dear Dennis, thank you for letting us know. It's a bit too late in the night for me to be testing this but will check sometime tomorrow and get back to you on it. BTW I have automatic updates set to on for all my applications under General/ Software Update not sure why these applications are not updating by them selves instead I have to go to the app. store and manually update them from the Today screen

The setting to install app updates automatically is located in Settings > Apps > App Store. Software Update Settings only determines how iOS updates are handled.

I can confirm that it work now.
I've tried the react pop up and it works every time now after WhatsApp was upgraded to 25.27.73.
Nice :-)

is why I do not allow the App Store to auto update my apps anymore.

Thank you, just checked and the setting was set to ON

I am on IST and just checked this morning in the app. store under My Account on the Today page, no update for Whats app was shown, are they being regionally discriminatory now?

If you do not automatically update your applications, how and when do you decide to update them? I mean it is a difficult thing to say that if after the update something will break, most of the times it does not and you have applications that are updated to work well with the latest IOS release

I will hear the little update flag on the App Store icon on my home screen, like, "12 new items", for example. Triple tapping on the App Store icon will bring up a dialogue where I can choose to go directly to the updates page. From there, I can choose to update all, or update apps individually. Usually I will wait a few days, and keep an eye on this website, to see if there are any posts Like this one here about WhatsApp, if there are no issues with any of my particular apps, I will go ahead and update.
To give a perfect example of why I do it this way, tedious though it may seem. There was a issue with an update to the Be My Eyes app on iOS, I think it was last year. A lot of people on here could not do anything with the app due to some glitch with the update. The Be My Eyes team had to develop and distribute another update to patch it. I was one of the few that did not have this problem, because I do not auto update.

*Update*
It was actually 2023, link below. 👇
https://www.applevis.com/forum/ios-ipados/solved-be-my-eyes-51-update-has-completely-broken-app-me

HTH. 😇

This is what I do also. Its a useful strategy.

Thank you all, just got the update and the issue seems to be fixed with the 25.27.73 update for WhatsApp