- OpenAI has reactivated ChatGPT on WhatsApp for users in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
- The service had been withdrawn in January 2026 due to a change in Meta's policies that favored Meta AI.
- The European Commission imposed precautionary measures on Meta to allow access to third-party chatbots.
- To use ChatGPT, simply send a message to +1-800-242-8478; no registration is required.
WhatsApp users in Spain and the rest of Europe can now chat again with OpenAI has confirmed the return of its artificial intelligence service to Meta after the European Commission forced the company to open its platform to third-party assistants. The news comes just months after the chatbot disappeared from WhatsApp due to a change in Meta's internal rules.
Access is free and does not require creating an OpenAI account, although those who link an existing one will enjoy a higher usage limit. The official number is 1-800-CHATGPT (or +1-800-242-8478)And all it takes is sending a message to start interacting with the assistant. Sam Altman's company explained that this measure is part of its strategy to bring artificial intelligence to the applications people use every day.
ChatGPT returns to WhatsApp in Europe
OpenAI's chatbot was supposed to arrive on WhatsApp in 2025, but He disappeared on January 15, 2026 When Meta updated its policies to allow only the use of Meta AI on the platform, that decision also affected other assistants like Microsoft's Copilot. The European Commission then opened an investigation into possible monopolistic practices and, following its inquiries, imposed precautionary measures requiring Meta to allow rival artificial intelligence providers to operate on the platform.
Thanks to that intervention, OpenAI has announced on its X account that ChatGPT is now available again on WhatsApp for the European Economic Area (EEA) and SwitzerlandIn a statement, Emmanuel Marill, OpenAI's vice president for EMEA, noted that "AI is most useful when people can access it wherever and whenever they want," and that the company also plans to extend the service to other applications such as Viber and Kakao in the markets where they operate.
How to use ChatGPT on WhatsApp step by step
The process is very simple. First, open WhatsApp and start a new chat. In the contact search bar, type the number. +1-800-242-8478 (or 1-800-CHATGPT). When you do this, ChatGPT will appear as a suggestion; just tap on its name to open the conversation. You don't need to add it to your contacts, although you can save it for later. integrate ChatGPT in WhatsApp and access it faster. There's also a QR code that scans directly into the chat.
Once inside, the assistant will ask you to accept the terms and conditions. No registration or ChatGPT account is requiredHowever, linking an existing account grants a higher usage limit. The rollout is gradual, so some users may experience delays depending on their phone number's country code.
Features available in this version of WhatsApp
The integration allows for text-based conversations, but also includes multimodal capabilities. Users can send voice notes for AI to processYou can upload photos for object recognition or text extraction, and even generate images from written descriptions. Furthermore, the assistant responds in multiple languages, helps with writing and editing texts, translates content, and offers advice on any topic.
OpenAI has pointed out that this free version has certain limitations, but that Anyone can start using it for freeThe company also reminded users to only use the official verified contact to avoid fake accounts or impersonation.
Progressive deployment and availability
The return isn't immediate for everyone. OpenAI has explained that activation will be gradual and will depend on both the company's planned schedule and the country code associated with the WhatsApp phone number. For now, the service is limited to the European Economic Area (European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and Switzerland. It hasn't been confirmed whether it will reach other regions such as Latin America or the United States.
ChatGPT's return to WhatsApp marks a milestone in the competition for artificial intelligence in messaging platforms. European users thus regain the option to choose between Meta AI and other assistants.This is something the European Commission considers essential to prevent abuses of dominant market position. Meanwhile, OpenAI is already working on bringing its chatbot to Viber and Kakao, further expanding the reach of its artificial intelligence.
