This developer hack turns Whoop into a silent notification band
The Whoop 5 vibration motor is getting a second life thanks to a third party Android app that adds call, message and app alerts. Built by a frustrated user who got tired of wearing two devices, the tool turns Whoop into a simple silent notifier.
The app called Whootify, shared on Reddit along with screenshots and a GitHub link, taps into Bluetooth Low Energy commands to trigger vibrations on the Whoop band when notifications arrive on your phone. It is not official, it is not supported by Whoop, but it works well enough to spark serious discussion.
What the app actually does
At a basic level, the app listens for notifications on Android and forwards selected ones to the Whoop band as vibration patterns. Calls, SMS and individual apps can be enabled or ignored. You can adjust how many vibration pulses are sent and whether alerts repeat until you respond.
The interface looks more like a developer tool than a consumer app. You scan for the band, test vibration commands and fine tune filters. That is part of the appeal. This is clearly aimed at people who already understand Android permissions and Bluetooth quirks.
The result is simple but effective. The Whoop becomes a silent tap on the wrist for important alerts, without lighting up a screen or pulling you into a smartwatch workflow.
Many people like Whoop precisely because it avoids screens and distractions. At the same time, they still want basic awareness when someone calls or messages.
The usual workaround is wearing a second device, often a smartwatch or a basic band. That solves notifications but adds bulk, battery management and more data silos. By reusing the vibration motor that is already there, this app challenges the idea that notifications automatically turn a device into a distraction machine. A vibration does not demand attention in the same way a screen does.
Our takeaway
The solution works, but it is fragile by nature. The app relies on reverse engineered behaviour. A firmware update or app change from Whoop could break it overnight. Also, its an Android only solution. iOS does not allow third party apps to access notifications in the same way, so an iPhone version is unlikely unless platform rules change.
Whether Whoop ever builds something similar officially is an open question. Historically the company has avoided anything that looks like smartwatch territory. Still, this project shows there is demand for a middle ground.
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