WhatsApp is currently rolling out a feature that allows existing group participants to share their chat history with new members. This feature will let new members catch up on previous conversations, making it easier to join ongoing discussions without missing important context.
| Key points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Group chat history sharing |
| Feature availability: | Some features announced in this article may be under development and not yet available to all beta testers, or they may be gradually rolling out to users. If you're unable to access a certain feature, you will need to wait for a future update. Keep reading for more information. |
| News shared last week: | WhatsApp is working on cover photos with new privacy settings on iOS! |
| Previous article: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.3.9: what's new? WhatsApp is working on an optional subscription plan to avoid ads in the Updates tab for users in Europe and the UK! |
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 is about the group history sharing option, a feature designed to help new members quickly get up to speed on past conversations. See what else has been announced this week.
Group calling support is under development for WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp is currently working on bringing group calling support to the web client. This functionality will allow all users to participate in group calls, regardless of the device they are using. Calls with up to 32 participants are expected to be supported, although this will have to be confirmed by WhatsApp upon the official release. WhatsApp is also developing additional tools to make group calls more efficient, including call links and scheduled calls. Call links enable users to instantly generate a shareable link that others can use to join the call. Scheduled calls will let users create an event that will be shared with others involved so they know in advance when someone is going to initiate the call.
WhatsApp is rolling out the group chat history sharing feature on iOS
The WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.2.10.73 update allows some beta testers to share their chat history with new group members. When someone joins a group chat, they may want more context about previous conversations in the group. For example, they might ask for screenshots of earlier messages or request a summary of what happened before they joined. Now, existing group participants can choose to share recent chat history with new members at the moment they are added to the group. Users can decide to share up to 100 messages, allowing the new member to quickly catch up on recent conversations. However, only up to 100 messages shared in the group over the last 14 days will be available.
WhatsApp is rolling out the feature to join the Android beta program
After installing the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.2.11 update, some users can join the beta program directly within the app. Once enabled the option "Early access to features", users will start receiving new updates once they become available. This feature may let users get critical updates before they are approved from Google on the Play Store. Additionally, it allows more users on stable versions to join the beta program without relying on the Google Play Store, which offers only a limited number of beta spots.
WhatsApp is working on primary controls and secondary accounts
WhatsApp is developing a feature that will let parents create secondary accounts with limited functionality. These accounts will be assigned to children when they do not meet WhatsApp's minimum age requirements. The secondary account prevents minors from sending or receiving messages and calls with accounts that are not in their contacts. In addition, a secondary account doesn't provide access to status updates, channels, and the chat lock feature. These limitations reduce the risk of minors interacting with content from unknown accounts while allowing parents to review their children's devices without concerns about unseen or hidden conversations.
WhatsApp is rolling out a status privacy info feature on iOS beta
The WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.3.10.70 update lets some beta testers check which audience a status update has been shared with. To open the Audience section, users need to open the status update viewers' sheet where the list displays everyone who has seen the update. In the Audience section, users can verify which contacts can view the status update. Users can also verify if they have mentioned the correct contacts in their status update. In addition, the Audience section allows users to determine whether other contacts can share their status update with their audience, regardless of whether they have been mentioned or not.
WhatsApp is working on a subscription plan to avoid ads in the Updates tab
Ahead of a wider distribution of Status Ads and Promoted Channels, WhatsApp is working to offer an ad-free plan for users in Europe and UK to let them avoid ads in the Updates tab. This means subscribed users will never see ads after viewing a certain number of status updates. They also will not see promoted channels, which some channel owners pay to feature in users' suggested channels. This plan will offer European and UK users the same options available on Facebook and Instagram, allowing them to choose whether to continue receiving ads in the Updates tab or subscribe instead. The ad-free plan for the Updates tab appears to be priced at €4, although this could be a rough estimate and could potentially change before the official release.
Stay tuned with us to discover new features and updates about WhatsApp coming your way next week. We will continue tracking all the latest beta releases, improvements, and bug fixes so you never miss a thing. Make sure to check back regularly and stay ahead with the newest ways to enhance your WhatsApp experience.
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