WhatsApp is rolling out media previews in the chat list
WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that makes it easier for users to recognize the latest message on Android. The app shows a small thumbnail next to the label for photos, videos, and stickers when they are the latest message shared in the conversation. This gives users a quick preview of the content without opening the conversation.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Feature: | Media thumbnails in the chat list |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.32.11 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: | Sc, shw_9876, kingcyrious, lostliano, flakoflow, Muhammad Hammad, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp rolls out username field for new contacts! |
WhatsApp released draft messages in the chat list
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.20.24 update, we announced a new feature that displays draft messages in the chat list. When users type a message without sending it and go back to the chat list, a "Draft" label appears next to the conversation. As a result, users no longer need to open their chats to check if they have left any messages unfinished. Instead, WhatsApp will show the draft message directly in the Chats tab. This feature helps users keep track of their conversations that have been left incomplete. With the introduction of the draft label, chats that contain an incomplete message are marked directly in the chat list, making it easier for users to identify them.
WhatsApp keeps improving message preview in the Chats tab
WhatsApp has been quietly adding more information to the chat list over time, and this new update follows the same direction. Now, WhatsApp is experimenting with a new feature that makes it simpler for users to understand what the latest message shared in a chat is without opening it. The new feature is available with the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.32.11 update, which is available on the Google Play Store. Specifically, WhatsApp is rolling out media previews directly in the chat list. The update focuses on photos, videos, and stickers.
How the chat list currently shows the last message
At the moment, the chat list shows a text preview of the last message in all conversation. If the last message is a text, users see its content. If it is a photo, they see the word "Photo". If it is a video, they see "Video", and so on for other media types. This works well for text messages, but for media it doesn't give more information. Two conversations can both show "Photo" as the last message, and there is no way to tell which photo from the chat list alone. WhatsApp is now addressing this by introducing media thumbnails in the chat list.
Photos now appear with a thumbnail next to the message label
WhatsApp shows a small preview of the photo in the chat list when it's the latest message shared in the conversation. The app still keeps the "Photo" label next to the thumbnail. So users can still identify the message type. The thumbnail is compact enough to fit alongside the existing layout without taking up more space. The preview is particularly useful when users want to see the latest photo received in a conversation but do not want to open it immediately.
Videos also get a visual preview in the chat list
The feature that shows a preview of the latest photo shared in a chat is not limited to images. The same feature also applies to videos. Just like with photos, WhatsApp also keeps the "Video" label next to the thumbnail. This makes it clearer that the content shared in the chat is a video rather than a photo. Users who recently received many videos in different chats will find it much easier to locate the right one.
WhatsApp also shows thumbnails for stickers
WhatsApp is also adding sticker previews directly to the chat list. Instead of limiting this experience to photos and videos, WhatsApp is extending the functionality to stickers as well. The "Sticker" label is still visibile in the chat list. However, users can see which sticker they received from a contact or a group without opening the conversation.
WhatsApp makes media previews easier to recognize without opening chats
The new thumbnail gives users a faster way to identify recent media from the chat list. Users can now recognize a photo, video, or sticker without opening the conversation. This helps users save a step when they want to see what someone shared without opening the conversation. The change also makes the latest message preview more informative since users can now see the actual media content instead of only its type.
WhatsApp is rolling out the unmute prompt to Android users
The media preview feature from the chat list is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp update from the Google Play Store. Note that not every users may see this feature immediately. WhatsApp is gradually making it available to select users, so it may take some time before it becomes available to your account. At the moment, WhatsApp has not announced when this feature will be available to everyone.
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