WhatsApp beta to add status updates to the top of the Chats tab
WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will let users see status updates directly at the top of the Chats tab. The feature was spotted in the latest beta version for Android, and it is designed to let users quickly preview status updates in the future.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Status updates at the top of the Chats tab |
| Status: | Under development |
| Availability info: | 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. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp is rolling out a Meta AI tab as a central hub on Android! |
WhatsApp is working on bringing status updates to the chat list
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.6.9 update, we announced a feature that brings status updates to the top app bar. This functionality will allow users to see a preview of status updates directly from the chat list. Users can already see status updates from the Chats tab by tapping the profile icon, but they have to scroll through the entire chat list. With this feature, users will be able to see status updates directly in the top app bar, so they can get a quickly glance at the latest updates without leaving the Chats tab.
Note that this feature is still under development. WhatsApp is currently refining the feature to make the experience clearer for users and ensure that accessing status updates from the top app bar is intuitive. Now, WhatsApp is expanding the feature to let users see all status updates above the chat list. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.11.2 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature that brings status updates to the top of the Chats tab.
As you can see from the attached image, WhatsApp is exploring a feature designed to display all status updates in a dedicated row above the chat list, scheduled for release in a future update. In the previous post, we explained that WhatsApp plans to introduce status updates within the top app bar. In a future update, users will see status updates in the top bar when they open the app. Here, WhatsApp will present up to 3 contacts who have recently shared a status update.
WhatsApp is now optimizing the feature in development by adding a new gesture to the interface. By scrolling down, users will reveal a horizontal row of all status updates just above the chat list. This gesture will allow users to view status updates shared by their contacts, not just the three shown in the top bar. This also includes status updates from archived contacts, and from contacts the user does not have an active chat with. The layout is inspired by Instagram, where stories are displayed in a horizontal row at the top of the feed. With this feature, all status updates on WhatsApp will be displayed at the top of the chat list.
WhatsApp won't directly show in this new interface status updates shared by contacts users have muted. Instead, they will be accessible through a separate entry point called "Hidden". In this section, users will be able to view all status updates from muted contacts without them appearing in the main status interface. So it will still be possible to browse and interact with these updates at their convenience. As a result, WhatsApp will keep the main status experience focused only on unmuted contacts.
This feature is designed to make status updates more accessible without leaving the Chats tab. This means that users will be able to scroll through their chat list while still seeing status updates at the top. This feature provides greater convenience, as users will no longer need to open the Updates tab to check status updates. So users can stay in the Chats tab and keep track of both messages and updates in one place. It's worth noting that status updates will not appear if users do not scroll down. Instead, they will become visible above the search bar only when they do.
It is important to note that WhatsApp is currently testing this feature in an early development phase. As a result, there is no guarantee that WhatsApp keeps developing this feature or that it will be released to users. Many features and changes are regularly tested within the app before any public rollout. These tests help developers evaluate whether the experience could be useful for the public. Any decision about releasing the feature will depend on multiple testing and evaluations.
Even if the feature is fully developed, it may still not be made available to the public. This is exactly what happened with a feature that would have allowed users to search for their drafts. Although the feature was ready, WhatsApp decided not to release it. This demonstrates that even features that are fully developed can remain unavailable if they do not meet certain expectations.
The feature that brings status updates to the top of the Chats tab is currently under development, and it is planned for release in a future update. At the moment, WhatsApp is refining how users can reveal status updates at the top of the chat list. Once testing is complete, WhatsApp will evaluate whether the feature should be officially released to beta testers.
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