WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.4.10.71: what's new?
WhatsApp has released a new iOS update through the TestFlight beta Program, bringing the version up to 26.4.10.71.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that shows how many times a channel update has been forwarded, and it's available to some beta testers!
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Statistics for forwarded channel updates |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.4.10.71 has been designated as a compatible update. |
| Availability info: | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more users over the coming weeks. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp is working on a new premium subscription plan with exclusive features! |
WhatsApp is rolling out statistics for forwarded channel updates on iOS
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.4.11 update, we announced the ability to check how many times a channel update has been forwarded. This functionality allows Android users who own a channel to get insights about their updates. Specifically, the forwarded count is intended to give channel administrators a clearer understanding into how widely their content is being shared. Instead of relying on the number of reactions an update received, channel admins can now better evaluate its reach.
Now, WhatsApp is expanding this feature to a wider audience, making it finally available for the iOS app as well. This finally aligns the experience across both mobile platforms and it allows more users to access the same functionality. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.4.10.71 update, which is available on the TestFlight app, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that shows how many times a channel update has been forwarded.
As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers who own a channel can now see the number of times a channel update has been shared. This number is visible next to the forward icon, which is located at the bottom of the channel update. This information provides a new metric for users to use to understand how many other people might have accessed the channel update. As a result, this feature can be considered as an additional analytical tool alongside reactions.
Like the analytics tool that provides channel-wide metrics, the information about how many times a channel update has been forwarded is private. This is a tool designed to help admins understand the reach of the status update. Therefore, followers will never have access to this information, as it is restricted to admins only. At the moment, it is unclear whether WhatsApp plans to make this information visible to everyone in a future update, regardless of whether they're an admin or not.
This new tool can really provide important information to admins. Since it reveals how many times channel updates are shared beyond the channel, it also allows channel admins to understand which updates have been most appreciated. For a channel admin, forwarding a channel update is far more important than receiving a reaction. This is because forwarding allows the update to reach a different audience. This is especially important when the update contains a link to a website, as it can attract more visits from users outside the channel.
Just as we explained to Android users how WhatsApp handles forward count information for a channel update, iOS users should be informed as well. WhatsApp doesn't track who users forward channel updates to. On their servers, WhatsApp only records how many times an update has been forwarded. For this reason, it's possible to forward the same update to the same chat multiple times, and each forward will still be counted separately. WhatsApp ignores duplicate forwards since it doesn't store recipient information.
The feature that shows how many times a channel update has been forwarded is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS update from TestFlight. This gradual rollout allows WhatsApp to evaluate performance and resolve issues ahead of the official release. Once these tests are complete, WhatsApp will finally release this feature to a wider audience, allowing more channel admins to check how many times their updates were shared.
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