GB WhatsApp APK Download Latest Version (Updated Sep 2026)
GBWhatsApp is a modified version of WhatsApp for Android that adds privacy controls, custom themes, anti-delete and a message scheduler. Download the latest v17.20 APK, then follow our install and backup steps.
Last updated: September 24, 2026 | Version 17.20 | 60.1 MB
What is GBWhatsApp APK?
Most people already use WhatsApp to send messages, photos, voice notes and videos. GBWhatsApp takes that same app and adds settings that the official version does not offer. Independent developers rebuild the WhatsApp client, add their own options and publish it as an APK file you install outside the Google Play Store.
It is one of the oldest WhatsApp mods and has been updated for years, alongside others like FMWhatsApp, OGWhatsApp and WhatsApp Plus. You log in with your normal phone number, your contacts see you as a regular WhatsApp user, and you get extra control over how your status, ticks and chats appear. You do not need to uninstall official WhatsApp to use it, and the app is free.
If you only want the file, go straight to the GBWhatsApp APK download page. If you are new to APK installs, read the sections below first.
GBWhatsApp APK file details
| App name | GBWhatsApp APK |
|---|---|
| Latest version | v17.20 |
| File size | 60.1 MB |
| Android version | Android 5.0 and above |
| Root required | No |
| Price | Free |
| Developer | Third-party (not WhatsApp LLC) |
| Last updated | September 2026 |
Features of GBWhatsApp
These are the options people install GBWhatsApp for. Most of them sit under the GB Settings menu, which you open from the three-dot menu on the home screen.
Hide blue ticks
Read messages without the sender seeing blue ticks, while you still see theirs. Official WhatsApp turns off both sides at once.
Anti-delete messages
When a contact deletes a message for everyone, GBWhatsApp keeps a copy so you can still read it, with a log of revoked messages.
Hide online status
Stay invisible while you chat. You can also freeze your last seen at a fixed time.
Hide typing and recording
Stop contacts from seeing typing or recording audio while you write a reply or record a voice note.
Download statuses
Save photos and videos from your contacts' statuses straight to your gallery without a separate app.
Auto reply
Set automatic replies for individual chats or groups, useful when you are driving, working or away.
Message scheduler
Write a message now and set it to go out at a chosen date and time.
DND mode
Cut GBWhatsApp's internet access with one switch while the rest of your phone stays online.
Themes and fonts
Pick from a large theme library, change chat bubbles, ticks, icons and fonts, or build your own theme.
Larger media sharing
Send more images in one go and share high-resolution photos without heavy compression.
Broadcast to groups
Send one message to several groups at the same time instead of pasting it into each one.
Profile photo alerts
Get a notification when a contact changes their profile picture.
Filter and clear chats
Filter messages inside a chat and clear selected conversations in bulk from the home screen.
Language options
Switch the app language from a built-in list without changing your phone's system language.
GBWhatsApp vs official WhatsApp
The table below compares what each app offers today. Official WhatsApp has added several features over the past few years, so some older comparisons you see online are out of date.
| Feature | GBWhatsApp | |
|---|---|---|
| Hide blue ticks but see others' | Yes | No |
| Read deleted messages | Yes | No |
| Hide online while chatting | Yes | Partial |
| Save contacts' statuses | Yes | No |
| Message scheduler | Yes | No |
| Auto reply | Yes | Business app only |
| Full theme and font control | Yes | Limited |
| Available on Play Store / App Store | No | Yes |
| Official security updates | No | Yes |
| Risk of account ban | Yes | No |
Requirements
- An Android phone or tablet running Android 5.0 or newer
- At least 200 MB of free storage for the app and your chat data
- A phone number that can receive an SMS or call for verification
- Permission to install apps from unknown sources
- A stable internet connection (Wi-Fi is best for the first backup restore)
During setup the app asks for access to contacts, storage, camera and microphone, the same permissions official WhatsApp uses.
How to download and install GBWhatsApp 2026
Installing an APK takes a few minutes. Back up your chats first if you plan to use your main number.
- Back up your chats. In official WhatsApp, open Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup, and tap Back up.
- Download the APK. Open the download page and tap the latest version button.
- Allow unknown sources. When Android asks, allow your browser or file manager to install unknown apps. On older phones this sits under Settings, then Security.
- Install the file. Open your Downloads folder, tap the GBWhatsApp APK and choose Install.
- Verify your number. Open the app, agree to the terms, enter your phone number and type the code you receive.
- Restore and set up. Restore your backup if it appears, add your name and photo, and open GB Settings to turn on the features you want.
Stuck on a step? Leave a message through our contact page.
Privacy settings in GBWhatsApp
Privacy control is the main reason most people switch. From GB Settings, then Privacy and Security, you can decide what your contacts see and choose different rules for individual chats or groups.
- Online status: hide it so contacts never see you as online
- Second tick: keep messages showing one tick after they reach your phone
- Blue ticks: read chats and statuses without sending read receipts
- Typing and recording: hide both indicators
- Anti-delete: keep messages and statuses that others delete
- Call blocking: choose who can call you on WhatsApp
- App lock: protect GBWhatsApp with a PIN, pattern or fingerprint
Personalize themes
GBWhatsApp has a theme store with hundreds of designs made by users. You can also change individual parts of the app, such as the chat background, header colour, bubble style, tick icons and home screen layout, then save the result as your own theme.
Send bigger files
The app lets you send more photos at once and choose original quality so pictures are not squeezed down. You can also share long videos by splitting them into parts and send most document types, including APK and ZIP files.
GBWhatsApp on other platforms
GBWhatsApp is built for Android. You can still use it on a computer, and iPhone users have a few options to know about.
Backing up GBWhatsApp data
GBWhatsApp cannot back up to Google Drive the way official WhatsApp does, because Google Drive backup only works with the official app. Backups are saved on your phone's storage instead, so you need to copy them somewhere safe yourself.
Back up inside the app
- Open GBWhatsApp, then Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup.
- Tap Back up. The app saves your messages and media to the GBWhatsApp folder in internal storage.
- Copy that folder to a computer, SD card or cloud storage so you have a second copy.
Back up with a computer
Connect your phone to a PC with a USB cable, open internal storage and copy the GBWhatsApp folder (on newer phones it is inside Android/media). Keep the copy until you have confirmed your chats restore properly on a new phone or new build.
Is GBWhatsApp safe? The ban question
This is the part many download sites skip. GBWhatsApp is not an official app. WhatsApp's terms do not allow modified clients, and WhatsApp does suspend accounts that use them, sometimes for a few hours and sometimes permanently. Because the app is not reviewed by Google or WhatsApp, you also have to trust whoever built the file you download.
To lower the risk: use a secondary number if you can, download only from a source you trust, scan the APK with Google Play Protect or VirusTotal before installing, keep regular backups and update when a new version comes out. Read our disclaimer for more.
GBWhatsApp in detail: 20 things to know
Where GBWhatsApp came from
GBWhatsApp has been around for years as a project of independent Android developers who wanted more control than the official WhatsApp app allowed. Different developer teams have taken over the code at different times, which is why the version numbers, update notes and developer names you see online sometimes change.
How the app works
GBWhatsApp is built on top of the official WhatsApp code and connects to the same WhatsApp servers. Its developers simply add a layer of extra settings. Because it uses a separate package name, Android treats it as a different app, so it can sit beside official WhatsApp on one phone.
Who uses GBWhatsApp
Most GBWhatsApp users are people who spend a lot of time in chats daily and want more say over what others can see. Small shop owners, students and people who manage large family or work groups often try it for the scheduler, the status saver and the extra privacy switches.
A privacy-first menu
The biggest reason people install GBWhatsApp is the privacy menu. Official WhatsApp gives you a few simple switches, while GB lets you set separate rules for contacts, groups and broadcasts. You can hide your online status from one person, keep blue ticks off for another, and leave everything else normal.
Blue ticks without the trade-off
In official WhatsApp, turning off read receipts also stops you from seeing when others read your messages. GBWhatsApp removes that trade-off. You can read a chat in full while the sender still sees only grey ticks, and you continue to see blue ticks on the messages you send to them.
Reading deleted messages
When someone taps Delete for everyone, official WhatsApp replaces the message with a short notice. GBWhatsApp keeps the original text in the chat and marks it as deleted by the sender. It also keeps status updates that a contact removes, and a small log of revoked messages to check later.
Saving statuses
Official WhatsApp does not let you save photos or videos from other people's statuses. GBWhatsApp adds a download button right inside the status viewer. Tap it and the file goes to your gallery. This saves you from installing a separate status saver app, many of which are full of ads.
Themes and custom looks
GBWhatsApp includes a built-in theme store with thousands of free designs uploaded by users. You can apply a full theme with one tap or change single parts by hand, such as the chat wallpaper, bubble colours, tick style, fonts and app icon. You can save and share your own design.
Scheduler and auto reply
The message scheduler lets you write a message now and send it later at a set date and time, handy for birthday wishes. Auto reply sends a ready-made response when a message arrives. Official WhatsApp keeps auto replies inside the WhatsApp Business app, so GB users get it without switching.
Two accounts on one phone
Since GBWhatsApp installs as its own app, many people run two numbers on one phone: a personal number in official WhatsApp and a second in GB. This is common for people who keep work chats apart from family chats, and it limits the damage if the GB number gets banned.
Sharing media in better quality
Official WhatsApp compresses photos by default to save data. GBWhatsApp gives you an option to send images at original quality and to share more pictures in one go. It also helps with long videos by splitting them into parts, so you can send a full clip without trimming it first.
Locking the app
GBWhatsApp has its own app lock with PIN, pattern or fingerprint options. You can lock the whole app or only certain chats. This is handy on shared phones, for example when children or relatives borrow your device. Official WhatsApp now has chat lock as well, but GB offers more options.
DND mode
DND in GBWhatsApp is different from your phone's Do Not Disturb setting. It cuts internet access for GBWhatsApp only, so messages stop arriving while other apps stay online. People often use it during exams or meetings. When you switch DND off, all pending messages come in at once as normal.
Why updates matter
GBWhatsApp builds expire over time. When WhatsApp changes its servers or login checks, older GB versions may show an update warning or refuse to connect. Updating regularly helps avoid most login errors. Our download page lists the latest version and older builds for phones that cannot run the newest one.
The ban risk explained
WhatsApp's terms of service do not allow modified clients, and WhatsApp does suspend numbers it detects using them. A ban can last a few hours or become permanent. Newer builds include anti-ban changes, but nobody can promise full protection. A secondary number is the safest way to test the app.
Security and trust
GBWhatsApp is not checked by Google Play or by WhatsApp, so you depend on whoever built and uploaded the file. Fake copies with added malware do circulate on random sites. Before installing, scan the APK with VirusTotal or Play Protect, and avoid download pages that ask you to complete surveys.
Backups need extra care
Google Drive backup only works with the official WhatsApp app, so GBWhatsApp saves backups on your phone's internal storage. If the phone is lost or reset, they go with it. Copy the GBWhatsApp folder to a computer or cloud storage every few weeks so you always have a spare copy.
Going back to official WhatsApp
To return to official WhatsApp, make a local backup in GB first. Then rename the GBWhatsApp folder and the backup files back to WhatsApp, uninstall GB, install official WhatsApp from the Play Store and restore from local storage. Doing it in this order keeps your chat history and media safe.
How it compares with other mods
GBWhatsApp is one of several WhatsApp mods, alongside FMWhatsApp, WhatsApp Plus and YoWhatsApp. They share much of the base code, so the core features look alike. The main differences are in theme libraries, menu layouts and how quickly each team releases updates after WhatsApp pushes a change to its servers.
Is GBWhatsApp right for you?
GBWhatsApp suits people who want more control over privacy and design and can accept the real risks that come with an unofficial app. If your WhatsApp number is tied to your bank or job, it makes sense to keep it on official WhatsApp and try GB on a spare one.
Frequently asked questions
What is GBWhatsApp APK?
GBWhatsApp is a modified Android build of WhatsApp made by third-party developers. It uses your normal WhatsApp number and adds options such as hiding blue ticks, keeping deleted messages, custom themes and a message scheduler.
Is GBWhatsApp safe to use?
The app is not made or checked by WhatsApp, so it does not get official security reviews. WhatsApp can also suspend numbers that use unofficial clients. Download only from a source you trust, scan the file, back up your chats and avoid using a number you cannot afford to lose.
Can GBWhatsApp get my account banned?
Yes, it can. WhatsApp's terms do not allow modified apps, and some users get a temporary ban or a request to switch back to the official app. Many people use a secondary number with GBWhatsApp for this reason.
Do I need to root my phone?
No. GBWhatsApp installs like any other APK file once you allow installs from unknown sources for your browser or file manager.
Can I use GBWhatsApp and official WhatsApp on the same phone?
Yes. GBWhatsApp installs under a different package name, so you can keep official WhatsApp on one number and GBWhatsApp on a second number side by side.
Is there GBWhatsApp for iPhone?
No genuine iOS version exists. iPhones cannot install APK files, and any site offering a GBWhatsApp iOS file should be treated with caution. Read our GBWhatsApp for iPhone page for details.
Can I run GBWhatsApp on a computer?
Yes, through an Android emulator on Windows or macOS. The GBWhatsApp for PC guide walks through the setup.
How do I move my chats from WhatsApp to GBWhatsApp?
Back up your chats in official WhatsApp to local storage, rename the WhatsApp folder to GBWhatsApp in your file manager, then install GBWhatsApp and choose Restore during setup. Full steps are on the download page.
Should I update GBWhatsApp?
Yes. Older builds stop working when WhatsApp changes its servers, and newer builds usually fix login problems. Check our download page for the current version.
Final words
GBWhatsApp gives you privacy and customization options that official WhatsApp still does not have, from hidden blue ticks to scheduled messages. It also comes with real trade-offs: no official support and a chance of an account ban. If those options matter to you, grab the latest GBWhatsApp APK, follow the install steps above and keep a backup of your chats.
If this guide helped, share it with friends who ask about GB WhatsApp.