WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.17.8: what's new?
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.22.17.8.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is releasing rich link previews for text status updates to some lucky beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Rich Link Preview – Text Status Updates |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Availability? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.17.8 is marked as compatible update, but some users may be able to get the same feature after installing the previous update as well. |
| I've installed this update but I don't have this feature. Why? | This feature has been rolled out to some beta testers, so if you don't have this feature please wait for another future update. |
| Thanks: | FastenM, Sc, Hypogriff, and Traiti, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp is releasing waveforms for voice notes on Windows beta |
RICH LINK PREVIEW
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.12.5 update, we shared news about a new feature under development: rich link previews for status updates. Thanks to this feature, WhatsApp is redesigning the user interface when sharing a link as a text status update.
The feature was under development... until today. In fact, thanks to the recent WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.17.7 update, some beta testers are now able to post rich links to status updates!
As you can see in this screenshot, it is very easy to check if the feature is already available to your WhatsApp account: just try to send a link to your status update and check if the rich preview is generated. If you see a rich preview, it means the feature is finally released to your WhatsApp account!
If you don't have the feature, don't worry: there is nothing wrong with your installation of WhatsApp, but it is the way WhatsApp uses to roll out features. In fact, the company is used to releasing features only to some beta testers, at the beginning. In addition, the rollout of this feature is very slow, so it may take a lot of time before appearing on multiple WhatsApp accounts.
Rich link previews for text status updates are available to some beta users today, and more activations will be following over the coming weeks.
Follow WABetaInfo on Twitter to always be up to date about WhatsApp news, and you can discover all other changes implemented on WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows!
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