WhatsApp for CarPlay is available on the App Store

WhatsApp is releasing a new CarPlay-compatible version of its app on the App Store. The official app enhances the in-car messaging experience by offering a dedicated interface to secure communication while driving.

Weekly WhatsApp Beta Updates: New Features and Improvements

This new weekly roundup brings together all the latest updates about WhatsApp beta shared this week. As a result, you can finally catch up on everything you might have missed from our past announcements. You can consider this summary as a way to stay informed about new features, improvements, and fixes. This week's highlight focuses on WhatsApp for CarPlay, a new app available on the App Store. See what else has been announced this week.

WhatsApp is introducing noice suppression for enhanced call quality

Noise cancellation is a technology that reduces unwanted background sounds. It detects and filters out ambient noise to preserve the speaker's voice. With the WhatsApp beta for iOS 2.26.14.1 update, WhatsApp is now rolling out noice cancellation. Some beta testers can easily manage noice cancellation right within the calling menu. With this option, users can improve the call clarity even in noisy environments. This makes voice conversations easier to understand. It can help users reduce distractions such as traffic, wind, or background chatter during their calls. So this feature delivers a more consistent audio experience across different network conditions.

WhatsApp releases the CarPlay app on the App Store

Last week, WhatsApp released a compatible app with CarPlay on TestFlight. This week, it is already available on the App Store. Before the native app was available, users had to rely on Siri to interact with CarPlay. Instead, the new app has a dedicated interface to make it easier for users to use it and minimize distractions. As a result, users can now read and send messages more conveniently while driving.

WhatsApp for CarPlay offers three tabs to make it more intuitive for users to choose what they want to do. The chat list is located in the first tab. However, it is not designed to let users open their conversations. Instead, it is used to check where there may be unread messages. The second tab offers access to the call history. In this section, users can easily scroll through a chronological list of incoming, outgoing, and missed calls. Finally, users can find their favorite contacts in the third tab. Here, users can quickly find the people they contact most often, and the list is synced with the user's favorites on their iPhone.

WhatsApp is working on paid channels for creators

In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.14.4 update, we announced a feature that will let users see how many followers are subscribed to a channel. While this feature is currently under development, WhatsApp keeps refining before the official release. In the future, anyone will be able to see the number of subscribers for channels that offer paid subscriptions right within the channel info screen. This information will help followers make informed decisions before subscribing to the channel.

WhatsApp makes it easier to add new members to groups

The WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.14.7 update lets users add new members in their group chats from the mention picker. When users type the @ in the chat text input, they can see who is possible to mention. In this list, WhatsApp now suggests contacts that aren't currently in the group. Note that these are simple suggestions. So it does not mean that it is possible to mention people who are not in the group.

WhatsApp will make it simpler to view status updates in the chat list

WhatsApp is working on a new feature that places status updates at the top of the Chats tab. In a future update, WhatsApp plans to place status update within the navigation bar. The center of the navigation bar will show contacts the user interacts with most who have recently shared a status update. Users will be able to scroll down the interface to see all status updates shared by their contacts.

WhatsApp expands status updates to recent unsaved contacts

WhatsApp has introduced a new way for users to connect with people they have recently interacted with. Now, status updates can be visible to phone numbers involved in recent chats or calls. When users see a phone number in the status interface, it means that the update is shared from a recent interaction with a phone number that is not saved in their address book. However, this feature may have caused some confusion. Some users might wonder why they are suddenly seeing status updates from unsaved contacts.

In the latest update, WhatsApp explains how a status update is shared through a recent interaction. The new introductory screen in the status interface clarifies that it is possible to receive status updates from unknown contacts if they are saved in their address book. However, they must have recently messaged or called them to allow the app to deliver the status update. Note that the privacy of your status updates has not changed. You still have full control over who can view your status at any time from your privacy settings.

WhatsApp is preparing to roll out the username feature publicly

This week, we announced that WhatsApp is finally working towards a public launch of the username feature. In these years, WhatsApp worked to ensure that the username experience is stable and secure. For this reason, the rollout of usernames is taking a significant amount of time. But now, WhatsApp is finally set to roll out the username feature to users as part of a phased rollout strategy over the coming months. When this feature becomes widely available in the future, users can hide their phone number by choosing a unique username. The process will be simple and intuitive, as it guides users step-by-step.

WhatsApp usernames must follow strict rules: they need 3 to 35 characters, include at least one letter, and can only contain lowercase letters, numbers, periods, or underscores. It will have to avoid formats like "www." at the start or domain endings. Additionally, a username must be available across Meta platforms. This means that it can only be claimed if it is unused on Instagram and Facebook, or verified as belonging to the same user.

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