Latest WhatsApp Beta News and Feature Updates

WhatsApp will finally expand chat themes with new categories and styles on Android. Featured is the most important category, which lets users set animated wallpapers that move slowly in the background. WhatsApp will still adjust the bubble color automatically to ensure consistency and accessibility.

WhatsApp is working on a new label for channel admins that flags AI-generated media in their updates. In some countries, users have a legal obligation to disclose when media is AI-generated. WhatsApp is building a tool to help them meet this requirement in their channels.

WhatsApp is rolling out a new prompt that appears right after users follow a channel. Until now, WhatsApp muted every new channel automatically without any explanation. The new alert gives users a nudge to turn notifications on if they want to get alerts from that channel.

WhatsApp is introducing a new feature to clean up storage used by channels. The update allows users to filter and delete media from specific channels by category. The feature also lets users clear media from multiple channels at once directly from the Updates tab.

WhatsApp is redesigning the media viewer interface to include a new set of tools to react and reply without leaving the full-screen view. The new design replaces the old shortcuts with a new reply bar. Users can now respond to a photo or video with any type of message, including voice notes and attachments, directly from the media viewer.

WhatsApp is introducing a home screen widget for voice messages on Android, so users can record and send a voice note without opening a specific chat. The widget opens a dedicated recording screen with controls to pause, resume, discard, or confirm the recording. Once they record the voice note, users can share it with one or more recipients at once.