On this page
- Current status of WhatsApp Aero in 2026
- What WhatsApp Aero was and why people loved it
- Why you should not install "new" WhatsApp Aero APKs
- Does the last WhatsApp Aero version still work?
- Best active alternatives to WhatsApp Aero
- How to move your chats from Aero to WhatsApp Plus or GBWhatsApp
- WhatsApp Aero FAQ
- Related guides
- Conclusion
WhatsApp Aero was the mod for Android users who wanted their chats to look like an iPhone's. Rounded bubbles, bottom tabs and a lighter, calmer design set it apart from the busy menus of other mods, and "whatsapp aero iphone style" became a search of its own.
Today the situation is very different. The developer has pulled every Aero app and deleted the code behind them. In this page we explain exactly what he said, why the Aero APKs still floating around are dangerous, and how to get a similar experience with mods that are still maintained.
Hazar Bozkurt, the creator of WhatsApp Aero, states on hazarbozkurt.com that all Aero apps were permanently removed from distribution and that the development files and source code were deleted. Any Aero app you find online is therefore an unauthorised clone. We do not offer Aero downloads.
App information| Name | WhatsApp Aero |
|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued |
| Requires Android | 5.0+ |
| Developer | Hazar Bozkurt |
| Category | Communication (mod) |
| Package | com.aero |
WhatsApp Aero no longer receives official updates. Sites advertising “new” versions usually distribute old copies or modified clones. These alternatives are still active:
Current status of WhatsApp Aero in 2026
In September 2026 our team checked the developer's own website, hazarbozkurt.com. The message there is unusually clear for the modding world: Aero is not paused, it is gone. All Aero apps were permanently removed from distribution, and the development files and source code were deleted.
- Developer: Hazar Bozkurt, often credited as Aero Mods.
- Status: permanently withdrawn by the developer.
- Source code: deleted, according to the developer.
- Aero files found online: unauthorised clones, not builds from the developer.
- Status on WasaPlus: discontinued, no download offered.
This has one important consequence: because the source no longer exists on the developer's side, there cannot be a genuine "WhatsApp Aero 2026", "Aero Pro" or "Aero update". Whoever publishes such a file is not the author, and you have no way of knowing what they changed.
What WhatsApp Aero was and why people loved it
WhatsApp Aero was an unofficial modified WhatsApp for Android created by the Turkish developer Hazar Bozkurt. You registered with your usual number, chatted with anyone on WhatsApp and found extra options in an Aero settings menu. What made it special, though, was the design.
Bottom navigation, rounded bubbles and a light, minimal header out of the box.
Emoji that looked like those on an iPhone, which many Android users wanted.
A theme store with light, dark, pastel and gradient designs.
Hiding online status, blue ticks and typing indicators.
Keeping messages and statuses that the sender deleted.
Larger files and less compression than the official app.
Searches for "WhatsApp Aero Pro" always referred to the same app; we never found a separate Pro edition from the developer. Today, any page selling or offering "Aero Pro" is one more clone to avoid.
Why you should not install "new" WhatsApp Aero APKs
When a well-known app disappears, its name keeps drawing searches, and some websites fill that gap with files of unknown origin. With Aero, the situation is even more clear-cut than usual: the author says the apps were removed and the code deleted, so every file online is, by definition, not his.
- Unauthorised clones: someone else built or modified the file and used the Aero name and icon.
- Old, expiring bases: copies of the last real builds run on outdated WhatsApp code that can be blocked at any time.
- Malware risk: a messenger clone can read chats, contacts and media; that makes it attractive to malicious uploaders.
- Higher ban risk: old or altered clients are easier for WhatsApp to detect.
- No support or fixes: nobody will patch bugs or security holes.
How to recognise a fake Aero download
- It shows a recent version number or "Aero 2026" as if the app were still developed.
- It uses "Pro", "Premium" or "Gold" to make an old build look new.
- It hides the download behind surveys, offers or extra app installs.
- It asks for accessibility access or device administrator rights.
- It claims to be endorsed by the developer, which is impossible after the withdrawal.
- An online malware scanner flags anything at all.
Our safety guide explains how to check any APK before you install it and what to do if your account gets banned.
Does the last WhatsApp Aero version still work?
If you still have an old Aero build on your phone, it may open and even send messages for a while. That is luck, not reliability. The app stopped evolving the day it was withdrawn, while WhatsApp keeps changing on its servers.
- WhatsApp can show a "this version has expired" or "update WhatsApp" screen at any moment, and no Aero update will ever arrive.
- Registering your number again, restoring on a new phone or linking WhatsApp Web can fail.
- The ban risk is higher than with a maintained mod.
- Security issues in the old code will stay unfixed forever.
We do not recommend keeping Aero as your main messenger. Make a backup now and plan your move to a maintained app.
Best active alternatives to WhatsApp Aero
Three mods are still updated by their developers in 2026: WhatsApp Plus and GBWhatsApp by AlexMods, and OBWhatsApp by Omar Al-Annabi. None of them copies Aero's design by default, but their theme stores and appearance settings let you move a long way towards a clean, iPhone-inspired look. The exact themes available change over time, so browse the store after installing.
| What you get | WhatsApp Plus | GBWhatsApp | OBWhatsApp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Active | Active | Active |
| Developer | AlexMods | AlexMods | Omar Al-Annabi |
| Latest version | 18.80 | 18.80 | 71 |
| Default look | Blue | Classic green | Colour variants |
| Theme store for other styles | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Emoji and font options | ✔ | ✔ | Varies |
| Hide online / blue ticks | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Anti-delete | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Several accounts on one phone | Varies | ✔ | ✔ (OB2, OB3) |
| Ban risk | Yes | Yes | Yes |
WhatsApp Plus: clean design, easy to style
If you chose Aero because other mods felt cluttered, WhatsApp Plus is the closest in spirit. Its Plus settings are tidy, and you can change colours, bubbles and icons or apply a light iOS-inspired theme from the store. The current release from AlexMods is 18.80.
GBWhatsApp: the most customisation
GBWhatsApp (18.80) has the deepest appearance menus, which makes it the best tool if you want to rebuild Aero's look yourself: bubble shapes, tick styles, fonts and home-screen layout. AlexMods warns that recent builds cannot be used with numbers that are already banned.
OBWhatsApp: several accounts
OBWhatsApp by Omar Al-Annabi is still being updated in 2026. It is less about design and more about practicality, with numbered builds for running several accounts on one phone.
APK file for Android · Free · No sign-up
APK file for Android · Free · No sign-up
If what you really want is an iPhone, remember that none of these mods run on iOS. Our WhatsApp Plus for iPhone guide explains what iPhone users can do safely, and the themes guide shows how to apply and tweak themes in active mods.
How to move your chats from Aero to WhatsApp Plus or GBWhatsApp
Your chat history can come with you. The key is a local backup, made while Aero still opens. If it has already expired, check its folder for the last automatic backup before you uninstall anything.
- 1Back up in Aero
Open Settings → Chats → Chat backup and tap Back up. Wait for it to complete.
- 2Find the backup
Open a file manager and look for Aero's WhatsApp folder, usually under Android/media on recent Android versions. The Databases subfolder contains your message backups.
- 3Copy it off the phone
Copy the whole folder to a computer, SD card or cloud storage.
- 4Match the folder name
Copy or rename the folder to what the new mod expects, keeping Databases and Media inside. Our backup guide lists the usual names.
- 5Uninstall Aero
Remove the old app once your copy is confirmed.
- 6Install an active mod
Install WhatsApp Plus or GBWhatsApp, enabling unknown sources only for the installation.
- 7Verify, restore and restyle
Verify your number, tap Restore when your backup is found, then pick a light theme and bottom navigation if your build offers it.
WhatsApp Aero FAQ
Is WhatsApp Aero discontinued?
Is there a WhatsApp Aero 2026?
Can I still use WhatsApp Aero?
What replaced WhatsApp Aero?
Will I lose my chats if I leave Aero?
Is WhatsApp Aero safe now?
Can I get the iPhone look without Aero?
Related guides
WhatsApp PlusActive v18.80The complete guide to WhatsApp Plus APK: latest version download, features, installation, updates, safety, backups and fixes for common problems.View and download →GBWhatsAppActive v18.80Everything about GB WhatsApp Pro: latest APK download, features, colour versions, installation, updates, safety, backups and troubleshooting.View and download →
OBWhatsApp (Omar)Active v71OBWhatsApp by Omar Al-Annabi: numbered builds for multiple accounts, colour versions, features, install steps and safety advice.View and download →Is It Safe?An honest look at the risks of WhatsApp Plus, GBWhatsApp and discontinued mods like FMWhatsApp, how to check an APK and what to do after a ban.Read guide →
Backup & RestoreLocal backups, restoring chats, transferring between mods and official WhatsApp, and updating without losing your history.Read guide →Compare ModsWhatsApp Plus vs GBWhatsApp vs OBWhatsApp side by side, a recommendation for each type of user, and the status of discontinued mods.Read guide →Conclusion
WhatsApp Aero was a stylish mod, but its creator has withdrawn it for good and deleted the code. That leaves only clones and old copies online, and neither is worth risking your chats for. Back up, uninstall, and move to a maintained mod such as WhatsApp Plus, GBWhatsApp or OBWhatsApp, or to the official app if your main number is too important to lose.
APK file for Android · Free · No sign-up
Updated: · By WasaPlus editorial team