WhatsApp beta for Android explores unified configuration for chat lists

WhatsApp is working on a feature that will let users manage their lists by applying unified settings. This feature will be part of the upcoming premium tools, making it easier for users to organize their chats and groups in the future.

WhatsApp Plus will introduce unified settings for chat lists

In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.9.9 update, we announced a feature that allows users to pin extra chats. This feature is included in the upcoming WhatsApp Plus plan, an optional subscription that will offer a selection of exclusive features by paying a monthly fee. With this feature, users will be able to pin up to 20 conversations at the top of the chat list. It will give users more flexibility to keep their most important conversations easily accessible.

Note that WhatsApp Plus is still in active development. Once its features are ready, WhatsApp is expected to officially introduce the subscription and gradually roll it out to users. In the meantime, WhatsApp keeps refining the plan by including new tools ahead of the official release. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.12.8 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a premium feature that unifies chat settings within a list.

As you can see from the attached image, WhatsApp is exploring a feature that allows users to choose a configuration for specific lists. While this feature is scheduled for release in a future update, it's already expected to bring an additional layer of convenience to the user experience. Lists are custom categories that let users organize their chats into groups. A list makes it easier for users to find and focus on specific conversations based on their preferences. They are located at the top of the chat list, making it faster for users to access specific chats.

Currently, users can assign a name to their lists and choose which chats and groups should be included. Users can create multiple lists to organize different aspects of their daily communication. For example, they might separate work-related conversations from their personal chats. Users can also quickly mute all chats within a list. However, there is no other benefit beyond organization at the moment.

With WhatsApp Plus, WhatsApp aims to further improve lists by introducing a new management system. After subscribing to WhatsApp Plus, users will be able to choose specific settings for all chats and groups included in a list. This means a single configuration can be applied to multiple conversations at once. For example, users will be able to select a chat theme that automatically applies to all chats within the list. When users add a new conversation to the list, the chat theme will be updated instantly to match the list settings.

WhatsApp plans to extend list settings to notification tones for messages and ringtones for calls. By adding a chat to a list, it will inherit the predefined configuration without requiring manual adjustments. For example, users could create a "Work" list with a specific notification tone and a ringtone for calls. Any new work-related chat added to that list would automatically adopt those settings. As a result, users can instantly recognize messages and calls from these chats without assigning the same tone to them manually.

When users will subscribe to WhatsApp Plus, they can save a significant amount of time when managing their conversations. Configuring settings at the list level will also reduce the risk of inconsistent configurations across different chats that belong to the same category. However, it is important to note that subscribing to WhatsApp Plus will be entirely optional. Only users who need these additional features will have to subscribe, while all existing functionality remain available to everyone else without any changes.

The feature that unifies chat settings within a list is currently under development, and it is planned for release in a future update. At the moment, WhatsApp is refining how these settings are applied and synchronized across different chats. Once testing is complete, WhatsApp will release this feature to some beta testers, making it simpler for users to manage multiple conversations with consistent settings.

Stay Connected with WABetaInfo

Following WABetaInfo on X is the best way to stay informed about new features under development and those released to WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web, and Desktop. We love hearing your feedback, so let us know what you think! You can also explore our dedicated page to discover all our services, or join our Discord Server to chat with others, get help and advice, and stay up to date with the latest WABetaInfo announcements.