WhatsApp is rolling out Liquid Glass for the chat interface on iOS
WhatsApp is introducing the Liquid Glass design to the chat interface on iOS, completing a redesign that started months ago. The chat bar now floats above the conversation with a translucent, glass-like look, and the navigation bar has turned transparent too. This finally brings the chat screen up to date with WhatsApp's new design.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Liquid Glass for the chat interface |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.25.10.16 is 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. |
| Thanks: | Akan, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news: | Will Cathcart steps down as head of WhatsApp after 7 years! |
WhatsApp is testing a Liquid Glass update for the chat screen
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.17.10.70 update, we announced a Liquid Glass interface for the chat screen. At the time, the chat bar and the navigation bar were the only two elements in the conversation screen that still had the old design. WhatsApp had already rolled out Liquid Glass to several other sections of the app, including the chat list and the Updates tab. However, the chat screen remained one of the last sections still using the old design.
WhatsApp finally launches Liquid Glass for the chat interface
A month later, there's already an update on Liquid Glass. WhatsApp didn't wait long to move forward: Liquid Glass for the chat screen is finally available. We discovered the news after installing the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.25.10.16 update, which is available on TestFlight. Specifically, WhatsApp is rolling out the Liquid Glass design for the chat interface to some beta testers.
How the new chat bar looks with Liquid Glass on WhatsApp
With the latest update, WhatsApp is finally extending the Liquid Glass design to the chat interface. The update refreshes the chat bar, which now appears as a floating element instead of a fixed bar. Its background uses the translucent, glass-like material that reflects and refracts whatever is behind it. The button that jumps to the latest message in the conversation also follows the same Liquid Glass design. Altogether, the bottom of the chat screen now matches the visual language used across the rest of WhatsApp.
The navigation bar also gets the same Liquid Glass update
At the top of the chat screen, the navigation bar is now transparent as well. This brings it in line with other sections of the app, such as the chat list and the Updates tab, where WhatsApp adopts the same style. A subtle fade effect sits behind the navigation bar, so messages and the wallpaper remain faintly visible underneath. The transparent navigation bar helps the chat screen feel less like a separate layer and more like part of the same interface.
This rollout completes Liquid Glass across the chat interface
With the chat bar and the navigation bar now updated, the chat screen catches up with the rest of the app. WhatsApp had already applied Liquid Glass to most other screens, except for the conversation interface. Although WhatsApp keeps working on improving Liquid Glass, these changes bring nearly the entire app under the same design language. At this rate, the old design probably won't stick around much longer.
How Liquid Glass changes the way WhatsApp feels to use
Liquid Glass is not just a design update. The translucency and depth effects make the interface feel more responsive to what's happening on screen. The chat bar and navigation bar now react to the content behind them, giving the app a more dynamic feel. For users, this changes how conversations feel on iOS 26, as it brings full compatibility with the system's design language.
WhatsApp is rolling out Liquid Glass for the chat interface to iOS beta testers
The Liquid Glass design for the chat interface is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS update from TestFlight. WhatsApp is currently testing the interface with a limited number of users, so it may not be visible to everyone yet. This rollout also involves some users who install the latest WhatsApp version available on the App Store. If you do not see Liquid Glass in the chat screen after updating the app, it should become available in the coming weeks. WhatsApp has not announced an official timeline for the stable release, but we expect it to be available to more users soon.
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