WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.1.28: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.26.1.28.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows users to share their chat history with new group members, and it's available to some beta testers!

WhatsApp Beta Introduces Recent Group Chat History Sharing for New Members

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.36.11 update, we announced that a feature that lets users share their chat history with new group members was under development. With this functionality, users can seamlessly bring newcomers up to speed on recent conversations without disrupting ongoing discussions. After giving permission, the feature automatically delivers a selected window of past messages, ensuring that new members have the context they need from the moment they join. Admins can control whether recent messages are shared, giving them flexibility over group privacy and participation.

It appears that WhatsApp is now testing this functionality with the public, as some beta testers have now access to the recent history sharing feature. Today, certain users have reported seeing a new option that allows users to share recent messages with new members, providing a smoother way for newcomers to catch up on ongoing conversations. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.1.28 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows users to share their chat history with new group members!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore a new option that enables the sharing of recent chat history with members who are just added. This feature addresses a long-standing issue in WhatsApp group chats, where newcomers often felt lost upon joining because they lacked context on ongoing conversations. Previously, new members frequently had to ask existing participants for summaries of recent discussions, which could interrupt the flow of the group and create confusion. By automatically providing access to recent messages, the feature ensures that new participants can understand the topic of the group immediately, reducing the need for manual explanations and making integration smoother.

The feature focuses on recent messages, ensuring that only the latest part of the conversation is delivered, without overwhelming new participants with the entire chat log. Up to a maximum of 100 messages can be shared, though users have the flexibility to share fewer messages if they prefer. WhatsApp calculates recent messages based on activity in the past 14 days, so older messages beyond this period are automatically excluded from the history sharing. This approach allows newcomers to catch up on relevant discussions without including outdated content that may no longer be useful. For example, if a group has exchanged 60 messages in the last 14 days and another 40 before that period, only the 60 recent messages will be shared when a new member joins.

Users who want to check if the feature is active can attempt to add a new member to the group, and the interface will indicate the option for history sharing if it is available. It is not necessary to complete the addition of the new member, as the process can be paused at the selection stage. At this point, the system will show exactly how many messages are available for sharing, giving users a clear view before confirming the action. Once the sharing is approved, WhatsApp begins sending the selected messages securely to the new participants.

Messages shared through this feature are highlighted in a different color, so new members can easily distinguish them from ongoing conversations. Additionally, all group members receive a notification that recent messages have been shared, along with timestamps and details about the history sharing event. End-to-end encryption also applies to this feature, ensuring that only new members with the appropriate encryption keys can access the shared messages. This guarantees that sensitive content remains protected even while enabling transparency for everyone in the group.

It's worth noting that the feature is disabled by default. This means users must actively enable it right when adding new members to the group. When enabling the history sharing option, users also receive a confirmation prompt the first three times they attempt to share messages, providing an additional safeguard against accidental sharing. After the third activation, the confirmation prompt no longer appears, as it is assumed that users are familiar with the process. However, the toggle remains optional and off by default to ensure that users maintain full control over their group's privacy and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to share recent messages.

The system automatically selects which messages fall into the "recent" category based on the 14-day window, balancing relevance and efficiency. Users can see an exact count of the messages that will be shared, giving them the option to proceed as is or limit the number by selecting fewer messages to share. WhatsApp also ensures that messages shared with new members remain fully encrypted, re-encrypting them specifically for the newcomers to maintain privacy. This approach allows for a seamless integration of new members into the conversation while keeping the chat secure.

The feature that allows users to share recent group chat history with new members is currently available to some beta testers who have installed the latest WhatsApp beta for Android update from the Google Play Store. WhatsApp is gradually testing this functionality in stages, which enables the development team to monitor performance and address any potential issues as they arise. Once testing and evaluations are complete, the feature will be rolled out to a wider audience, allowing new group members to quickly catch up on ongoing conversations and participate more smoothly.

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