After introducing refresh icons for communities and their linked groups with the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.13.12 update through the Google Play Store, WhatsApp is now rolling out a tweaked interface for the communities tab, and it’s available to some beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Communities – new interface |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.13.11 and 2.23.13.12 are marked as two compatible updates, but some users may be able to get the same interface by installing certain previous versions of the app. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this new interface. Why? | The new interface is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more users over the coming days. |
| Thanks: | Roa, UnluckyTester, and Muhammad Hammad, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.13.12: what’s new? WhatsApp is rolling out new icons for communities and their linked groups! |
COMMUNITIES
WhatsApp keeps working on enhancing the interface for the Android app. Following the introduction of new switches that align with the Material Design 3 guidelines, WhatsApp is now releasing improved interface for the communities tab. Even though it is not part of the app’s evolution project regarding Material Design 3, this updated interface aims to provide users with a clearer understanding of the benefits and features offered by communities.
As you can see in this screenshot, this is a new interface that appears when the user has not joined any community. Communities offer a convenient way to stay connected to numerous groups within a unified space. These topic-based groups bring members together in order to enhance communication and make it easier for community members to get important announcements from the community admin thanks to the community announcement group.
Note that if you have already joined at least one community on WhatsApp, you may also be able to explore a new community page where all the groups added to the community will be listed. WhatsApp previously released the new community page to some lucky beta testers after installing the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.12.13 update, and it is now rolling out to more beta users. Anyone in the community can join those groups listed in the new community page, but the community admin may temporarily limit who can join a certain group linked to the community in case they enabled the approve new participants option, released with the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.6.9 update. In this situation, the user will need to wait for manual approval to join the group.
The new interface for the communities tab is available to 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.
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