WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.20.9: what's new?
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.22.20.9.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is releasing the ability to hide the online status to some lucky beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Who can see when I'm online |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.20.9 is marked as a compatible update but some users may be able to get the same feature after installing the 2.22.20.7 beta build as well. |
| I've installed this update but I don't have this feature. Why? | WhatsApp is releasing the ability to hide the online status to certain lucky beta testers. More activations will be following over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | kingcyrious, TheNewsHQ, Elias, and luismcgarcia, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp is working on editing messages on Desktop beta |
WHO CAN SEE WHEN I'M ONLINE
Last month, Mark Zuckerberg announced on Facebook that three new features would have been released on WhatsApp: past group participants, screenshot blocking, and a privacy setting "who can see when you're online" on the app. Thanks to the new privacy setting, people will be able to use the app in stealth mode by deleting the string "online". After a long delay, WhatsApp is finally releasing the feature to some lucky beta testers that install the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.20.9 update:
As you can see in this screenshot, it is easy for you to check if you can already hide your online presence: just open WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy and if you see "Last seen and online", it means the feature is already available for your account! If the feature is enabled for your account, just select "same as last seen" so your online presence will only be shared with people that can already see your last seen: for example, if only your contacts can see your last seen, your online presence won't be shared with non-contacts; if nobody can see your last seen, nobody will be able to see when you're active on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is rolling out this feature to certain beta testers and, like any other feature, they are slowly enabling it to more users gradually. In addition, if the 2.22.20.9 beta update is not available on the Play Store, note that the 2.22.20.7 beta build is also marked as one of the compatible updates.
Unfortunately, we do not know when the company is going to make the rollout wider, so you just have to wait for another build if the feature is not visible within your privacy settings. As always, we will let you know when more people are able to hide their online presence in a future build.
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