“Apple is extending OTP autofill beyond SMS for the first time. Third party messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are now part of the native login experience. That’s a big win for users and developers alike.”

With iOS 26, Apple is making one-time password delivery smoother than ever. Until now, autofill worked for SMS and Apple’s own apps. But if a code came through WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber, the user had to switch apps, copy the code, and paste it manually

That changes with iOS 26. Autofill now works across third-party messaging apps, meaning codes from services like WhatsApp and Telegram appear directly in the iOS keyboard suggestion bar.

This is one of those UX updates that quietly improves onboarding and login experience and it pairs perfectly with a feature we recently introduced at Prelude.

Why this update is perfect match with our new preferred channel feature

This year, we launched Preferred Channel, a way to give users more control over how they receive their one-time password. Some prefer the reliability of SMS. Others prefer getting the code in WhatsApp, Telegram, or even RCS.

With iOS 26, that flexibility finally comes without tradeoffs. Regardless of which channel the user chooses, the OTP can now be autofilled instantly: no copy and paste, no switching screens.

This is a big deal. It means developers can design for flexibility without sacrificing conversion. And it means your users get a fast, clean login flow no matter their preferred app.

Multiple channels, one seamless experience

We’ve expanded delivery beyond SMS so you can now send one-time passwords through:

• WhatsApp

• Telegram

• Viber

• RCS

• Zelo (only for Vietnam)

We’ve tested OTP autofill across iOS 26 betas and confirmed it works as long as the code is formatted correctly. Prelude handles that formatting automatically, so no changes are needed if you're already using our platform.

Looking ahead

iOS 26 is expected to roll out publicly this fall. With autofill expanding to third-party messaging apps, users will expect it everywhere. If your product still relies on copy and paste or doesn’t support channels beyond SMS, now is the time to improve the flow.

Preferred Channel and iOS 26 work beautifully together. They give users choice, while keeping the login experience fast and secure.

If you’d like help testing or rolling this out across your stack you can start testing our platform here.