WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.18.3: what's new?
WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.18.3.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature to select and copy specific parts of a chat message, and it will be available in a future update!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Chat message selection |
| Status? | Under development |
| Availability? | WhatsApp is currently developing a feature to select and copy specific parts of a chat message, which is expected to be released in a future update. |
| I've installed the update, but this feature isn't available. Why? | This feature is currently in development and not yet available for beta testing. In the meantime, you can read this article for a sneak peek. |
| Thanks: | ShuhaibNC, for collaborating, testing, and reporting. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp for iOS 25.16.81: what's new? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to select and copy parts of a chat message! |
CHAT MESSAGE SELECTION
In the article about the WhatsApp for iOS 25.16.81 update, we announced that a feature to select and copy parts of a chat message is available. This new functionality allows iOS users to precisely highlight and extract specific words, phrases, or sentences within a message, rather than copying the entire text. By simply tapping and holding on a message and then dragging to select the desired portion, users can now quickly and easily copy only the information they need. This enhancement streamlines the process, making it faster and more intuitive to share or save relevant details. It appears that WhatsApp is also interested in bringing this new selection tool to the Android version in the future, ensuring a consistent experience across both platforms. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.18.3 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature to select and copy specific parts of a chat message!
As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is exploring the implementation of a feature that will allow users to partially select message content, scheduled for release in a future update. Similar to the iOS version, Android users will be able to tap and hold on a message to trigger this new selection interface. This interface will enable users to highlight individual words or entire sentences within the same message, rather than being forced to copy the entire text. This partial selection tool will be accessible across all types of conversations, including individual chats, group chats, and channels. This means users will have a powerful selection tool no matter the chat context or their specific needs.
The new selection feature will eliminate the need for users to copy and paste entire messages just to remove unwanted sections manually. By allowing users to directly highlight and copy only the specific words or sentences they want within the chat, it significantly streamlines the process of extracting relevant information. Additionally, the feature will enhance user control over shared messages, making it simpler and more efficient to extract and share precise details as needed.
It's important to note that WhatsApp is still considering the release of a new context menu for messages, a redesigned message interface previously announced in the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.11.4 update. Since the partial selection functionality will be fully compatible with this new context menu interface, which replicates the sleek, modern, and intuitive design implemented on iOS, its availability on Android depends on the rollout of this updated interface.
Although the partial message selection feature is already available on WhatsApp for iOS, it is not yet available on WhatsApp for Android because the new message menu required to support it has not been released on that platform. Once the redesigned message menu is introduced in a future update, it will finally provide the necessary framework to support partial message selection, ensuring a consistent and seamless user experience across both iOS and Android.
A feature to select and copy specific parts of a chat message is under development and it will be available in a future update. We will keep you updated with an additional article as soon as we have more details to share about this feature.
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