Digital Skills · Staying Connected · Family
Help Your Elderly Parent Use WhatsApp: A Step-by-Step Guide
WhatsApp is the UK's most widely used messaging app, and for good reason: free calls, video chats, photos and voice messages — all on the phone your parent already has.
If they've never used it, knowing where to start can feel daunting for both of you. This guide takes it step by step, from downloading the app to making a video call, and is designed to be read alongside your parent or left with them as a simple reference. Most people find WhatsApp straightforward to pick up once they've had a short introduction. The hardest part is usually just getting started.
Why WhatsApp is worth setting up
A few reasons it's particularly worth setting up for an older parent:
- Free. Calls, video calls and messages cost nothing beyond the phone's existing data connection or WiFi. No per-minute charges.
- Works on any smartphone. Whether your parent has an iPhone or an Android phone, WhatsApp works the same way.
- Voice messages instead of typing. For anyone who finds typing on a small screen difficult, WhatsApp lets you hold down a button, speak, and send — no typing needed.
- Group family chats. Everyone in one conversation, with photos, voice notes and calls — no need to message people one by one.
- Private. All messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, which means only the sender and recipient can see them.
If your parent goes on to use Hea
The daily check-in arrives as a WhatsApp message each morning — there's nothing extra to download or learn. It simply shows up as a message from a contact, the same way a message from you would.
What your parent will need
Before you start, check these four things:
- A smartphone. WhatsApp works on iPhones and Android phones. As of June 2026, WhatsApp requires iOS 15.1 or later on iPhone (iPhone 6s or newer), and Android 5.0 or later — though from September 2026 the minimum will rise to Android 6.0, and from November 2026 to iOS 15.5. If your parent has an older phone, it's worth checking compatibility first.
- A mobile number. WhatsApp links to a phone number, so your parent needs an active SIM in the phone they're setting it up on.
- A data connection. Either WiFi at home or a mobile data plan will work. WiFi is free; mobile data uses a small amount of the monthly allowance.
- An App Store or Google Play account. On iPhone, this means an Apple ID. On Android, a Google account. If your parent doesn't have one, setting this up is a quick step worth doing first.
Download and install WhatsApp
iPhone
Open the App Store (blue icon with a white A). Tap the magnifying glass and type “WhatsApp.” Find the app with the green telephone icon. Tap Get, then Install. It may ask for your Apple ID password or fingerprint. Once installed, tap Open.
Android
Open Google Play (the colourful triangle icon). Tap the search bar and type “WhatsApp.” Find WhatsApp Messenger with the green icon. Tap Install, then Open once it's finished.
Set up the account
When WhatsApp opens for the first time, it asks for a phone number. Enter your parent's mobile number, including the country code if prompted (for UK numbers, this is +44, dropping the initial 0 — so 07700 900123 becomes +44 7700 900123).
WhatsApp then sends a text message with a six-digit code. If the text doesn't arrive after a minute or two, tap Resend SMS or Call me instead — the second option reads the code aloud, which can be helpful if texts are slow.
After entering the code, WhatsApp asks for a name and an optional photo. Skip the photo for now if it feels like too many steps.
WhatsApp then asks for permission to access contacts, microphone and camera. It's worth tapping Allow for all three: contacts means existing phone numbers appear in WhatsApp automatically, the microphone is needed for voice calls, and the camera for video calls.
Send a first message
Tap the pencil icon (iPhone) or green speech bubble (Android) in the top corner. Find a contact, tap their name to open the chat, type a message in the box at the bottom and tap the arrow to send.
Make a WhatsApp video call
Open a chat with the person to call. At the top right of the screen, tap the phone icon for a voice call, or the video camera icon for a video call. The call connects the same way as a regular phone call — the other person's phone rings, they answer, and you're talking. It uses the internet rather than mobile minutes, so there's no cost beyond the data connection.
A few things worth knowing
Increasing the text size
If the font in WhatsApp is too small to read comfortably, it can be changed. On iPhone: Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Larger Text. On Android: open WhatsApp → tap the three dots in the top right → Settings → Chats → Font Size.
Closing a chat without deleting it
Many people worry about accidentally deleting conversations. To leave a chat, simply press the back arrow or swipe — this closes it without deleting anything. To actually delete a chat, you'd need to swipe left (iPhone) or long-press (Android) and choose “Delete.” It won't happen accidentally.
Notifications
If important messages are being missed, check that notifications are turned on. On iPhone: Settings → Notifications → WhatsApp → Allow Notifications. On Android: Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Notifications → Allow.
WhatsApp scams — an important warning
A common fraud involves someone claiming to be a family member who has “lost their phone” and needs money urgently. WhatsApp will never contact your parent directly to ask for payment, account details or passwords. If a message like this arrives — even from a contact they recognise — call that person directly on their regular number before doing anything. Scammers can take over a contact's account and impersonate them convincingly.
Once WhatsApp is set up — what comes next
When your parent is comfortable with the basics, WhatsApp opens up the rest of the family's way of staying in touch: the group family chat, photos shared from visits, a quick voice note to say good morning.
If they go on to use Hea, there's nothing new to learn. Each morning, a short friendly message arrives asking how they're doing. They reply in their own words, at their own pace, the same as replying to any other message. You get a weekly picture of how they've actually been — not just how they sounded on the day you happened to call.
Already on WhatsApp? Hea arrives as a simple daily message
No new app. No new interface. Just a friendly morning question about how your parent is doing — and a clear weekly picture for you.
See how Hea worksFrequently asked questions
Does WhatsApp cost money?
No. WhatsApp itself is free to download and free to use. Calls, video calls and messages don't cost anything beyond your parent's existing data connection or WiFi. If they're using mobile data rather than WiFi, this uses a small amount of their data allowance, but messaging and calls use very little.
What if my parent accidentally deletes WhatsApp?
Re-downloading it from the App Store or Google Play reinstates everything, because WhatsApp links to the phone number rather than the device. Their conversations may or may not reappear depending on whether a backup was saved, but their account and contacts will be restored.
Can my parent use WhatsApp on a tablet as well as a phone?
Yes — WhatsApp can now be linked to up to four devices on the same account. This is useful if your parent finds a tablet easier to read than a phone screen. The setup process is the same.
Is WhatsApp safe for an older person to use?
Yes, with the same cautions that apply to any messaging app. Messages are encrypted and private. The main risk is scam messages, which is why the warning above is worth discussing with your parent before they start using it.
Sources
- Ofcom, Online Nations Report 2025 — ofcom.org.uk
- Uswitch, UK Mobile Phone Statistics (updated August 2025) — uswitch.com
- WABetaInfo, WhatsApp to drop support for older Android versions in September 2026 (April 2026) — wabetainfo.com
- WhatsApp Help Centre, About supported operating systems — faq.whatsapp.com
- Sprout Social, UK Social Media Marketing Demographics 2026 — sproutsocial.com
