WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.23.8.11.
What’s new in this update? WhatsApp is working on expiring groups as an additional tool to save space, available in a future update of the app!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Expiring groups |
| Status? | Under development |
| Availability? | WhatsApp is working on bringing the ability to configure an expiration for groups to a future update. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is under development so it is not ready to be released to beta testers, but you can discover a preview in this article. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp is releasing the companion mode for all beta testers on Android! |
EXPIRING GROUPS
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.5.0.71 update, we posted news about a feature under development: expiring groups. Thanks to this feature, it will be possible to make certain WhatsApp groups expire on our end as users will be prompted to clean up the group when the chosen expiration date is reached. The feature is still in development on WhatsApp beta for iOS but, thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.8.11 update available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that this feature is also under development on the Android app:
As you can see in this screenshot, it is possible to choose different expiring options for your groups, when the feature will be released in a future update. It’s important to note that the expiration of the group only happens on our end, as we are the ones setting the expiration date. We believe that the addition of this feature will offer an effective solution to a common problem where groups become disorganized and lose relevance over time. In addition, it provides users with a useful storage tool for managing groups over time and saving space, particularly for those groups created temporarily for specific events.
Actually, if we compare this screenshot with the one published in the article about WhatsApp for iOS, we can notice some differences: WhatsApp for Android is developing the “now” option, and WhatsApp for iOS already has a “custom date” option in development. While the “now” option may appear redundant, as the group can simply be deleted, the “custom date” option on iOS is definitely more interesting. Note that these options may be subject to change, as the feature is still in development: in fact, Android users may receive the same options as those identified during the development of WhatsApp for iOS.
The ability to choose the expiration for your WhatsApp groups is under development and it will be released in a future update of WhatsApp. As always, we plan to keep you up to date by posting an additional article on this website when we have further details to share with you.
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