WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.23.9.20.
What’s new in this update? WhatsApp is releasing an option to manage the side-by-side feature on Android tablets, and it is available to some beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Side-by-side feature |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.9.20 is marked as a compatible update, but some beta testers may be able to get the same feature after installing the previous 2.23.9.19 update. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to even more users over the coming weeks. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.9.0.70: what’s new? WhatsApp is releasing a voice message transcription feature! |
SIDE-BY-SIDE FEATURE
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.5.3 update, we announced that a tweaked interface for Android tablets was available. Thanks to the tweaked interface, users can take advantage of the side-by-side view, which mainly allows them to switch between conversations without losing track of their ongoing chats. After installing the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.9.20 update, we discovered that a new option to manage this interface is available within the app settings:
As you can see in this screenshot, users can disable the side-by-side view by toggling the option available within WhatsApp Settings > Chats. Thanks to this option, users now have more control over the WhatsApp interface on their Android tablets.
Some users wanted to disable the side-by-side view on WhatsApp to get a larger interface for their conversations. The side-by-side view splits the screen, which can result in a smaller area for each conversation, especially on devices with smaller screens. In addition, some users simply prefer the traditional single-window view and may find the side-by-side view distracting or inconvenient. Finally, WhatsApp is rolling out a toggle to disable the side-by-side view.
The feature to manage the side-by-side view on Android tablets is available for some beta testers that install the latest update of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming days.
Stay up-to-date on WhatsApp news by following WABetaInfo on Twitter where you can also discover other new features for WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows.
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