WhatsApp "You need the official WhatsApp to log in".

Amat

I'm experiencing the same with a fresh new install on pixel 7 and new SIM. Installed from at store, it first worked and after sending some messages I got banned. 24hs later the ban was removed (I received a notification), but couldn't login anymore, no mater what I try, I always get the "unofficial app" message. A big problem because my family and friends all use whatsapp.

AlphaElwedritsch

Install pixelOS and see if it's getting better

Aquathing

Just wanted to add that WhatsApp used Play Integrity while I was sleeping. The app is still working as of now.

happy_hippo

Aquathing Same here. Installed from Play Store since day one, has always worked fine. I also got the Play integrity notification during the night. Working ok for now.

Stephan-P

This morning i received this new GOS-notification that WhatsApp had used the Google Play Integrity API.
My GOS P7a has Play services installed, I am on a owner first user profile and WhatsApp is installed from Google Playstore.
WhatsApp is (still) functional. No warning message from WhatsApp (yet).

Titan_M2

Stephan-P WhatsApp is (still) functional. No warning message from WhatsApp (yet).

They are probably using it to gauge the availability and/or as part of an anti-spam strategy, hope they don't start enforcing it. If they do, GrapheneOS is toast, but I don't think they would. Whatsapp has always had huge backwards compatibility (works up to Android 5) and enforcing Play Integrity is at odds with it right now.

eza

Been getting the "unofficial app" message for a few months now. I don't use WhatsApp often, but I need it for talking with family overseas sometimes. I installed the version from the Play Store and from the WhatsApp website, and it's the same result with the error message.

My partner has it on their phone with GOS, but they're not getting any errors. I am scared that it will come up and lock them out of their chats. Wondering if I need to put them back in the stock PixelOS just to be safe?

If there is anything I can do to help in testing this, please let me know.

Justadude

Hey all, just wanted to add to this as well as I just started getting this error.
Working great until I changed my phone number.
Worked fine with new number for about 24 hours then got 'banned' and couldn't log in.
When I got 'unbanned' and tried to log back in went to the "You need the official WhatsApp to login" screen when it got to sending the 2FA code to new number.
Used secondary Pixel 6 phone with stock OS, no problem with logging in with new number.
Factory reset Graphene, same error -- no change.
Tried my old number (I'm running 2 sims) it WORKED.

So for my experience it is bricking or erroring out ONLY when using the new number I changed too, I can log in with old number on same Graphene OS / WhatsApp installed....

Hope this helps...

Quick update. In Whats App running fine with the old number I tried add account with the new number. Same issue get the 'Unofficial App' BS.

Curious if the workaround would be to 'Add Account' instead of going through the changing number via WhatsApp.

Jake

Just want to say that my experience is nearly identical to other people in this thread. Came over to grapheneos with a brand new sim and after inserting the sim, installing WhatsApp and registering my new number everything worked for about a day.Then my account was banned for a few hours before being restored with a message along the lines of "sorry our system mistakingly flagged you". Regardless it made me go through the number confirmation process again and on confirming my number I run into "you must download an official version of WhatsApp" page. Nothing I do fixes this error, uninstalling, reinstalling, increasing permissions etc. I always run into the "official WhatsApp" crap, though it was downloaded from the play store

rollover5278

Jake same with me, fresh installed of GrapheneOS on 8 pro today with unofficial whatsapp notification.
Tried installing through aurora, play store and apk directly from website with no luck.
I can't really move to another chat client because of work and families

mrn

I'm on GrapheneOS with no Google Play Services and I never had an issue.
I get my app from the official website, through Obtanium.

rollover5278

mrn did you do some tweak to it or just run as is?

Jake

mrn Just tried again now, installing from the official website via obtainium. Unfortunately the problem persists for me and whatsapp is unusable on graphene os. Interested to see what others experiences are when registering a new number directly from a fresh graphene os install

mrn

rollover5278 As is. I have two numbers, and been enabling a VPN on WhatsApp for years now, which I sometimes connect to different countries in a single day. Never had an issue.

rollover5278

mrn I guess my main number is flagged for using "unofficial whatsapp" when using GrapheneOS as I use another number and it log in just fine, how unfortunate. I just can login using stock OS right now

mrn

But, these are all accounts that I created before being on GOS, so that might have an impact.

dc32f0cfe84def651e0e

I just installed Whatsapp from Play Store on my second Pixel with GOS. Registered a new account with a brand new prepaid SIM card. Although there was a notification about Play Integrity request, the app didn't complain. Will let you know if anything changes.

TGOS

Jake
I installed Whatsapp in January via https://whatsapp.com/android and registered a fresh phone number.

Keep it updated via Obtainium, there are close to daily updates and it works great.

ahaasler

This just happened to me using the official app downloaded from the Play Store, I was able to send a message and 10 seconds later I watched the screen change and tell me I was logged off for using an unofficial app. I also tried downloading the apk from their web and it does not work, the same message appears telling me to use the official app.

Hat

WhatsApp still works with an old profile.
I tried to register a new phone number using the APK from the official website, but I couldn't (the app checks for Play Integrity).
The Play Store also refuses to install the app, complaining about an error but not specifying what it is.
Some other apps also won't install from the Play Store.

Hat

Hat
After several attempts, the app worked. No clear solution was found. It was installed from the WA website about 10 days ago. The last try was with:

VPN disabled
Internet through mobile network
DCL via memory disabled
Play integrity API blocked

I think we should ask the scammers how they install it with virtual numbers. They certainly have an easier way! 🤣

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