FM WhatsApp is a modified version of WhatsApp for Android that adds privacy controls, call tools and customisation options the official app does not include. It runs on the same messaging servers as regular WhatsApp, so your number, contacts and groups behave exactly as before. What changes is how much of your activity other people can see, and how much of the app you can reshape.
The app is not available on Google Play, so it arrives as an APK file installed by hand. It is free, works on Android 5.0 and above, and needs no root access. Because it is an unofficial client, it breaks Meta’s Terms of Service and carries a real risk of account restriction.
App Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| App name | FM WhatsApp |
| Latest version | v10.10 |
| File size | Around 90 MB |
| Android requirement | 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher |
| Package name | com.fmwhatsapp |
| Developer | Fouad Mokdad (FouadMods) |
| Category | Social / Messaging |
| Price | Free |
| Root needed | No |
| Last updated | August 2026 |
What Is FM WhatsApp APK?
FM WhatsApp APK is a rebuilt version of the official WhatsApp app, made by an independent developer rather than Meta. It sits on the same messaging infrastructure underneath, which means your chats, calls and media travel the route they always did. The difference lives in a separate settings panel where options appear that the official app never exposes.
The official app makes several choices on your behalf. It tells your contacts when you are online, when you last opened the app, whether you read a message and whether you are typing. FM WhatsApp hands those choices back to you as individual switches.
Above the privacy layer sits a customisation system that goes deeper than most competing mods. You get a theme centre, custom fonts, editable colours, per-chat wallpapers and the ability to pull sticker packs straight from the Play Store. There are also tools the official app does not offer at all, including a call recorder and a message scheduler.
Origin and Development History
FM WhatsApp comes from Fouad Mokdad, a developer who has worked on WhatsApp modifications since the mid-2010s. The FM in the name comes from his own initials, which is why the project has always been tied to one person more closely than most mods. Where other projects passed between teams, this one kept a consistent hand on it.
The early builds focused on customisation at a time when competing mods concentrated mainly on privacy toggles. That emphasis stuck and still shapes the app today. The theme centre and the sticker import system both grew out of that original direction.
The project runs under the package name com.fmwhatsapp, which matters for anyone who wants to keep official WhatsApp installed at the same time. Some builds share a package name with the official app and some do not, and that detail decides whether the two can coexist on one phone. There is a full section on that further down.
Available Languages
| Languages | Download Links |
|---|---|
| English | Download FM WhatsApp |
| French | Télécharger FM WhatsApp |
| Bhasa Indonesia | Unduh FM WhatsApp |
| Portugese | Baixar FM WhatsApp |
| Spanish | Descargar FM WhatsApp |
What’s New in FM WhatsApp v10.10
The latest release concentrated on three areas: ban resistance, sticker handling and default appearance. Older builds still function, but several long-running issues were only addressed here. FMWApp.net tracks changes release by release rather than describing features in general terms.
- Stronger anti-ban protection reduces the verification failures and temporary suspensions that affected earlier builds
- Sticker pack import from Play Store lets you pull official sticker packs into the app and use them across all chats
- New default themes ship built in, with fresh light and dark options that need no download
- Improved privacy controls with finer settings for online status, last seen and message visibility
- Faster loading across chat lists and media-heavy conversations
- Reduced battery consumption compared with the previous release on the same line
- More reliable message delivery on slow or unstable connections
Bug Fixes in This Release
- Verification code failures during setup resolved
- Storage permission handling corrected on Android 14
- Theme downloads fixed on recent Android versions
- Crashes when opening conversations with large media histories addressed
- Backup and restore reliability improved
- Display issues on unusual screen ratios corrected
Version History
| Version | Year | Main change |
|---|---|---|
| v8.12 | 2022 | Lightweight build, classic interface |
| v8.51 | 2023 | Freeze last seen introduced |
| v9.21 | 2023 | Resource handling improved for mid-range phones |
| v9.80 | 2024 | Theme centre reworked |
| v10.00 | 2025 | Major base update, new privacy layer |
| v10.10 | 2025 | Anti-ban improvements, bug fixes |
Privacy Features of FM WhatsApp
Privacy is where this app opens its widest gap over the official version. Every indicator WhatsApp normally broadcasts for you becomes something you switch on or off. The controls sit inside the app’s own settings panel, separate from standard WhatsApp settings.
Hide Online Status
Nobody sees when you are connected. You browse chats, reply to messages and use the app without your online status appearing to anyone. It is the single most used setting in the whole list.
Freeze Last Seen
This pins your last seen timestamp to a moment you choose. Contacts keep seeing that same time even while you read and reply. Your own view of everyone else’s last seen stays exactly as it was.
Hide Blue Ticks
Read any message without sending a read receipt. The sender sees the message as delivered but never as read, until you decide to reply. This remains one of the oldest reasons people install the app.
Hide the Second Tick
This goes further than blue ticks alone. It hides the second grey tick as well, so the sender cannot confirm the message reached your phone at all. Use it carefully, since it makes you look unreachable rather than simply slow.
Hide Typing and Recording Indicators
Compose your reply without the other person watching “typing…” appear and disappear while you think. The same applies to voice notes and the “recording audio…” label. It removes the pressure to answer immediately.
View Status Anonymously
Open any contact’s status without your name entering their viewer list. You see the photo, video or text in full while nothing registers on their side. This works on regular and hidden statuses alike.
Anti View Once
Photos and videos sent as view once stay in the chat instead of vanishing after a single look. You can reopen them freely or save them to your gallery. Apply some judgement here, because the sender chose that setting deliberately.
Anti-Delete Messages and Status
When someone deletes a message for everyone, you still see the content marked as deleted. This covers text, images and voice notes. Deleted status updates also stay visible for their full 24 hours.
Download Status
Save any contact’s status photos and videos directly to your gallery. No screen recording, no external apps and no screenshots. A download icon appears on each status while you view it.
Hide Chats
Remove specific conversations from the main screen rather than merely archiving them. They disappear from the list and reappear only through a gesture or password you set. Unlike chat lock, the contact name itself stops being visible.
Customization Features
The second reason people install this app is how far its appearance can be reshaped. Nothing about the default green interface is fixed. Themes, fonts, colours, icons, wallpapers and even sticker sources all become editable.
The FM Settings Menu Explained
FM Settings is the app’s control panel and the feature that most distinguishes it from the official version. Rather than scattering options across several screens, it gathers privacy, themes, security and messaging tools into one place. You reach it through the three dots at the top of the home screen.
The panel splits into clear groups, with privacy and security on one side and appearance on the other. People arriving from official WhatsApp usually find it dense at first glance. After half an hour of exploring, the layout makes sense and navigation becomes quick.
Theme Centre
The built-in theme centre holds thousands of designs created by the community. Themes apply instantly without reinstalling anything, and your chats and settings stay untouched. If a theme disappoints, switching back takes one tap.
Import Sticker Packs from Play Store
This is one of the app’s more useful additions and something competing mods handle poorly. You can pull official sticker packs from the Play Store directly into the app and use them across every conversation. No conversion, no third-party sticker app and no manual file copying.
Fonts, Colours and Icons
Change the typeface across the entire app to something easier on your eyes. Colours adjust element by element, covering bubbles, buttons and headers separately. You can also swap the launcher icon, so nobody glancing at your home screen learns that you run a modified client.
Per-Chat Wallpapers
Set a different background for every conversation using any image from your gallery. Your work group, family chat and closest friend can each look completely distinct. It makes finding the right conversation faster than reading names.
Bubble and Tick Styles
Chat bubbles change shape between rounded, square and an iOS-style appearance. Sent and received messages take separate colours. Even the delivery tick design offers several alternatives.
Security Features
Security here covers two separate concerns: protecting your phone from other people, and protecting your account from restriction. The app handles the first well. The second is more complicated and deserves careful reading.
App Lock
Protect the whole app with a PIN, pattern, fingerprint or face unlock, without needing an external lock app. Even with your phone unlocked, FM WhatsApp stays closed to anyone else. The setting lives inside FM Settings.
Individual Chat Lock
Lock specific conversations behind their own PIN or fingerprint. Every other chat stays accessible as normal. This suits shared phones and situations where handing your device to someone is routine.
Two-Step Verification
This works identically to the official app: a six-digit PIN plus a recovery email address. If someone tries registering your number on another device, they need that PIN. Turn it on the first day rather than later.
Airplane Mode and DND
The built-in airplane mode cuts internet access for this app alone, leaving the rest of your phone connected. You keep browsing, using other apps and receiving calls, but no messages come through. It differs from muting notifications, which only hides the alert while the app keeps receiving and marking messages as delivered.
Anti-Ban Protection What It Does and Does Not Do
The anti-ban layer hides the client signals Meta’s detection systems look for. The v10.10 release strengthened it noticeably, and users report fewer verification failures and fewer temporary suspensions than on earlier builds. That improvement is real and worth stating.
Now the honest part. No anti-ban system works completely, and any site promising otherwise is guessing or selling. Meta updates its detection regularly, and every update starts a race the developer has to catch up with, which is why FMWApp.net publishes no ban-proof guarantees.
Using this app still breaks Meta’s Terms of Service whatever protection sits on top of it. A residual risk always remains and never reaches zero. Plan around that rather than assuming you are covered.
Running FM WhatsApp Alongside Official WhatsApp
- Many people want to run both apps together
- Depends on the mod’s package name:
- Same package name as official WhatsApp → can’t coexist
- Different package name → installs and runs alongside fine
Method 1: Cloning Apps
- Apps like Parallel Space and Dual Space create a separate container to run a second copy of an app
- Install the mod inside the clone; keep official WhatsApp as normal
- Both run at once with different numbers
- Downsides:
- Uses extra battery and memory
- Adds another third-party app with broad permissions
- Some cloning apps show ads or request excess access
Method 2: Android Multiple Users
- Uses Android’s built-in multiple user profiles feature
- No extra app needed
- Steps: create a second profile in settings → install the mod there → switch profiles from lock screen or quick settings
- Advantages: cleaner, no third-party app involved
- Downsides:
- Switching profiles is slower than switching apps
- Notifications from the inactive profile can behave inconsistently depending on phone brand
FM WhatsApp vs Official WhatsApp Features Comparison
| Feature | FM WhatsApp | Official WhatsApp |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Fouad Mokdad | Meta |
| Available on Play Store | No | Yes |
| Hide online status | Yes | No |
| Freeze last seen | Yes | No |
| Hide blue ticks | Yes | Yes |
| Hide second tick | Yes | No |
| Hide typing indicator | Yes | No |
| View status anonymously | Yes | No |
| Anti-delete messages | Yes | No |
| Anti view once | Yes | No |
| Download status | Yes | No |
| Call recorder | Yes | No |
| Sticker import from Play Store | Yes | Partial |
| Theme centre | Thousands | Light and dark only |
| Custom fonts | Yes | No |
| Message scheduler | Yes | No |
| Auto reply | Yes | Business only |
| Airplane mode for app | Yes | No |
| App lock | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple accounts | Yes | Limited |
| Automatic updates | No | Yes |
| Official support | No | Yes |
| Ban risk | Real | None |
| Independently audited code | No | Yes |
System Requirements
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Android version | 5.0 (Lollipop) | 8.0 or higher |
| Free storage | 150 MB | 500 MB |
| RAM | 1 GB | 2 GB or more |
| Connection | Wi-Fi or mobile data | Stable Wi-Fi |
| Root | Not needed | Not needed |
Permissions It Requests
The app asks for the same permissions as official WhatsApp, plus one extra tied to call recording:
- Contacts to find who you can message
- Storage to save media, backups and recordings
- Camera for photos, video calls and QR scanning
- Microphone for voice notes, calls and the call recorder
- Notifications for message alerts
Red flag: if a build requests accessibility services or device administrator access, do not install it. Those point to a tampered file rather than the genuine app.
FM WhatsApp on Android, PC and iOS
Platform availability causes more confusion in this niche than any other topic. FM WhatsApp Android is an Android application and nothing more, so anything you read about other platforms describes a workaround rather than a real version. Knowing which workarounds actually function saves a great deal of wasted effort.
FM WhatsApp for Android
Android is the only platform the app genuinely targets. It runs on Android 5.0 (Lollipop) and above, requires no root, and behaves like any other installed application once it is on the device. Every feature described on this page refers to the Android build.
FM WhatsApp for PC and Windows
No native version exists for Windows or Mac, and none is likely to appear. The app ships as an Android package, so a desktop computer cannot run it directly. The only working route is an Android emulator, which creates a virtual Android environment inside your machine.
BlueStacks, LDPlayer and NoxPlayer are the three emulators people use most often. You install the emulator first, load the Android app inside it, then verify your number using the code sent to your real phone. Performance depends almost entirely on how much spare RAM your computer has.
| PC requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB or more |
| Free disk space | 5 GB | 10 GB |
| Processor | Dual core | Quad core |
Two limitations deserve attention before you start. Emulators are demanding on system resources and will noticeably slow an older machine. Running a modified client inside an emulator also does nothing to reduce ban risk, since Meta sees the client rather than the hardware.
FM WhatsApp for iPhone and iOS
No iPhone or iPad version exists, and this is not a temporary gap. Apple permits app installation only through the App Store, and the App Store does not accept modified copies of existing applications. That restriction is structural rather than a policy that might change.
Two workarounds circulate online, and both deserve a clear warning:
- Certificate signing tools install signed IPA files without jailbreak, but Apple revokes those certificates frequently, so the app stops working within weeks and the entire process must be repeated
- Jailbreak voids your warranty, disables the security protections built into iOS, and can leave the device unstable or cut off from official updates
FMWApp.net does not offer an iOS file, because no version works reliably, and any site claiming to have one is either mislabelling something else or running a scam. iPhone users are better served by official WhatsApp. Several features that originally drew people to mods, including chat lock, custom wallpapers and stricter privacy controls, now ship in the official app anyway.
Is FM WhatsApp Legal?
Downloading and using this app is not a crime in most countries. It breaks a contract rather than a law. The distinction matters, because the two get confused constantly.
What you are breaking are WhatsApp’s Terms of Service, a civil agreement between you and Meta. The practical consequence is account restriction, not prosecution. Nobody ends up in court for installing a modified messenger.
Call recording is the one genuine legal exception in this app, and it deserves separate attention. Many countries require all parties to consent before a call can be recorded, and some treat one-party recording as an offence. That risk belongs to the recorder, not to the app, so check your local law before using the feature.
What to Do If Your Account Gets Banned
| Ban type | Duration | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary | 1 to 24 hours | Wait it out, do not reinstall or re-register |
| Extended temporary | 2 to 7 days | Wait, then update to the latest build before returning |
| Permanent | Indefinite | Move to official WhatsApp and request a review |
For a permanent ban, open official WhatsApp, enter your number and use the review request option on the block screen. Explain the situation plainly. There is no guarantee of recovery, and reinstalling the mod afterwards restarts the same risk.
Do not attempt to rush a temporary ban. Reinstalling or re-registering during one frequently extends the period. Patience genuinely produces better results here.
How to Return to Official WhatsApp
Moving back is straightforward and your conversations survive the change.
- Open the app and run a full backup from its own settings
- Copy the backup folder to a computer or SD card, which is required rather than optional
- Uninstall the modified app
- Install official WhatsApp from Google Play
- Verify your number and restore when prompted
One caveat applies. The mod’s backup format does not always match the official app perfectly, so some media may fail to transfer. Text messages usually come through complete.
On Android 11 and above, uninstalling an app can delete its storage folder, which is precisely where your backup sits. Move that folder somewhere safe first, or there may be nothing left to restore.
Older Versions and Why People Use Them
Plenty of people deliberately run an older build rather than the newest one. The reasons are practical and worth understanding before you assume newest always means best.
- Device compatibility matters most on phones running Android 6 or 7, where recent builds can behave unpredictably
- Performance improves on handsets with 1 GB of RAM, since older builds carry lighter theme engines
- Interface preference keeps some people on earlier releases whose layout they simply prefer
- A specific feature occasionally gets removed or changed in a later build
The cost of staying behind is straightforward. Older builds carry weaker anti-ban protection, which measurably raises restriction risk. They also miss security fixes, and outdated clients are among the most common causes of account flags. Run an older build only when the current one gives you a concrete problem.
Common Problems and Fixes
Here are the common FM WhatsApp Problems and Fixes you follow during Installation & Usage.
Parse Error During Installation
- Usually means an incomplete download
- Delete the file, redownload on a stable connection, let it finish fully
- Can also happen if the file doesn’t match your Android version
App Not Installed
- Caused by another build already installed with a different signature, or storage being full
- Back up your data, uninstall the old version, then reinstall
Verification Code Not Arriving
- Wait the full cycle before requesting a new code
- Check signal, and confirm number/country code are correct
- Make sure SMS from unknown numbers isn’t blocked
- If still nothing, use the call option instead
Signature Conflict on Update
- Happens when switching between FM and Fouad builds
- Back up, uninstall, then do a clean install of whichever build you’re keeping
- Never mix the two builds
App Crashes or Runs Slowly
- Clear cache: Settings → Apps → FM WhatsApp → Storage
- If it persists, switch back to the default theme (heavy themes often cause this)
- On 1GB RAM phones, use a lighter, older build
Themes or Stickers Won’t Download
- Theme issues were common on Android 14+ in builds before v10.10 – update to fix
- Sticker import failures are usually a Play Store permissions issue, not the app
- Fix: clear app cache, confirm storage permission is granted, try again
Pros and Cons
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Deep privacy control over status, last seen and ticks | Breaks Meta’s Terms of Service, ban risk is real |
| Built-in call recorder that official WhatsApp lacks entirely | Call recording carries legal exposure in many countries |
| Sticker pack import straight from Play Store | No automatic updates, everything is manual |
| FM Settings gathers every control in one panel | Not available on Play Store |
| Thousands of themes, fonts, colours and icons | Android only, no iPhone version |
| Airplane mode for the app alone | New official features arrive late |
| Higher file limits without compression | Code has never been independently audited |
| Free scheduler and auto reply | No official support from Meta |
Quick Glossary
- APK is the file format Android applications come in, equivalent to an installer
- MOD means a modified version of an original app, built by a third party
- Sideload means installing an app from a file rather than an official store
- OTP is the one-time code sent by SMS to verify your number
- Anti-ban describes techniques that hide the signals Meta uses to detect modified clients
- Package name is the internal identifier that decides whether two apps can coexist on one phone
- Signature conflict is the error you get when installing one developer’s build over another’s
- End-to-end encryption protects a message while it travels, not while it sits on your device
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FM WhatsApp?
FM WhatsApp is a modified Android version of WhatsApp that adds privacy controls, a call recorder and customisation the official app lacks. It includes freeze last seen, hide blue ticks, a theme centre, sticker import, message scheduling and auto reply. It uses your normal number and contacts but installs as an APK outside Google Play.
What is the latest version of FM WhatsApp?
The current build on the main line is v10.10, released in 2026. Numbers such as v17.40 that appear on some sites refer to a different labelling scheme rather than a newer release. Check the release date alongside the version number, since the date is the more reliable signal.
What is the difference between FM WhatsApp and Fouad WhatsApp?
Both come from the same developer and share a foundation. Fouad WhatsApp is the flagship line and receives new features first, while FM WhatsApp follows shortly after with a lighter interface arrangement. Capability is nearly identical, so the choice comes down to interface preference.
Is FM WhatsApp safe to use?
It can be reasonably safe with a verified file, but it is never free of risk. The app breaks Meta’s Terms of Service and its code has never passed an independent security audit. For genuinely sensitive conversations, use the official app.
Can my account be banned for using it?
Yes, this happens. Meta detects modified clients and issues both temporary and permanent bans. The anti-ban layer in v10.10 reduces the risk noticeably but does not remove it.
Does FM WhatsApp really record calls?
Yes, it includes a built-in call recorder, which official WhatsApp does not offer on any platform. Recordings save to your device storage. Check your local law before using it, since many countries require every participant to consent before a call may be recorded.
Is it legal to use FM WhatsApp?
Yes, completely. Every feature including the theme centre, call recorder, scheduler and app lock costs nothing, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases. Any site charging for the file is running a scam.
Can I use FM WhatsApp and official WhatsApp on the same phone?
Using it is not a criminal offence in most countries, though it does break WhatsApp’s Terms of Service. That is a contract matter rather than a legal one. Call recording is the exception and carries genuine legal exposure depending on where you live.
Does FM WhatsApp have end-to-end encryption?
Messages travel encrypted because the app uses WhatsApp’s protocol. That encryption protects the message in transit but not inside your device, since a modified client can read what you type before encryption happens. The code has also never been independently audited.
Does FM WhatsApp work on iPhone?
No. Apple permits only App Store applications, and the App Store does not accept modified versions of existing apps. Certificate signing and jailbreak routes exist, but certificates get revoked within weeks and jailbreak weakens the whole device.
Why is FM WhatsApp not on Google Play?
Google Play does not accept modified versions of existing applications, particularly ones that breach another company’s terms. That is why the app exists only as an APK file. It also means updates never arrive automatically.
Conclusion
FM WhatsApp APK Official holds a distinct position among WhatsApp mods in 2026. The call recorder, the Play Store sticker import and the FM Settings panel give it genuine advantages that competing mods do not match, and the theme centre remains among the deepest available. For anyone who finds the official app restrictive, the difference shows up within minutes.
The drawbacks are equally real and deserve honest weighing. Updates are manual, support does not exist, the app is Android only, and the ban risk never fully disappears. Call recording adds a legal dimension the other features do not carry, and the encryption question deserves more attention than it usually receives, since an unaudited client sits between you and your messages.
Anyone considering the switch should enable two-step verification immediately, back up before changing anything, and keep genuinely sensitive conversations on the official app. If your number matters a great deal, or you run a business from it, or you use an iPhone, official WhatsApp remains the sensible choice. At FMWApp.net the aim is to give you the complete picture, including the parts other sites leave out, so the decision stays genuinely yours.
