Latest WhatsApp Beta News and Feature Updates

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.26.17.10. What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that shows when status updates are reshared many times, and it's available to some beta testers!

WhatsApp is working on a feature that will introduce channels in the chat list in the future. This update will allow users to access channels directly from the Chats tab through a dedicated filter, making it easier to switch between their personal conversations and channel updates.

WhatsApp beta for Android has a new feature that lets users see status updates directly at the top of the Chats tab. This feature makes it easier for users to quickly access recent updates without switching to a separate section, keeping everything visible within the main chat interface.

WhatsApp is working on its own cloud backup provider in the future, where backups are end-to-end encrypted by default. The update will reduce dependency on third-party services like Google Drive and iCloud, making it easier for users to manage their storage independently.

Starting September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will drop support for versions older than Android 6. Users will still be able to access WhatsApp as long as they are on the latest supported version of the app and running Android 6 or newer.

WhatsApp is working on notification bubbles to improve how conversations appear on Android in the future. This feature is designed to make messaging more accessible, faster, and better integrated into the system.