WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.23.16.17.
What’s new in this update? WhatsApp is widely rolling out a tweaked interface that includes the bottom navigation bar, and it’s available to more beta testers starting today!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Bottom navigation bar |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.16.17 is marked as a compatible update, but some users may be able to get the same feature by installing the previous 2.23.16.16 update. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is rolling out to a lot of beta testers starting today, and it will be available to more users over the coming days. |
| Thanks: | A7mad, Kingcyrious, UnluckyTester, Hypogriff, FastenM, Muhammad Hammad, and all other people that shared their experience on X, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.16.16: what’s new? WhatsApp is working on a channel report feature! |
BOTTOM NAVIGATION BAR
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.15.24 update, we announced that WhatsApp was widely rolling out some enhancements for the interface of the app that align with the rules of Material Design 3. These improvements include redesigned floating action buttons, new toggles, and rounded alerts and menus. Although WhatsApp rolled out these improvements to the interface to a considerable number of beta testers, there were still many users who couldn’t experiment with the bottom navigation bar. Finally, after installing the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.16.17 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we can confirm that WhatsApp is widely releasing the bottom navigation bar!
As you can see in the attached screenshot, the bottom navigation bar is finally available with the latest update of the app. The most updated configuration for the bottom navigation bar includes the following tabs: chats, status, communities, and calls. In addition, the chats tab and the floating action button have been redesigned in order to represent an incoming message bubble, as previously announced.
It’s important to note that there may be a disadvantage to installing this update. Specifically, WhatsApp removed the ability to swipe between tabs. They introduced this feature for the bottom navigation bar with the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.13.9 update, but it seems they are widely disabling it for some reason. As we announced on X, this gesture doesn’t follow the Material Design guidelines, so we can’t be sure if this feature will come back. Only time will tell.
The tweaked interface that includes the bottom navigation bar is available to some beta testers that install the latest WhatsApp beta for Android update from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming days.
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