WhatsApp officially announced a series of new features aimed at enhancing group chats, calls, and community engagement, including a real-time online activity indicator, improved notification management, and expanded event functionality. The update also improves call quality and adds zoom for video calls, while channel admins can share video updates and use QR codes for promotion.
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | New messaging and calling tools |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | The most recent versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS have been designated as compatible updates. |
| I have updated my version of WhatsApp but I don't have at least one of these features. Why? | These features will be available to more users over the coming weeks. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.11.3: what's new? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that lets users send avatar sticker messages in their chats! |
NEW MESSAGING AND CALLING TOOLS
In the article about the WhatsApp for iOS 25.8.74 update, we announced that a real-time online activity feature for group chats was available. This feature is designed to provide users with a quick overview of how many group members are currently online, helping them better understand group activity levels at any given moment. While it does not reveal the identities of the online users, it offers a valuable indicator of potential responsiveness within the group. It's important to note that WhatsApp maintains its strong privacy standards, as users who have chosen to hide their online status will not be included in the count, nor will they see the online count themselves. This ensures that personal privacy preferences are respected at all times since WhatsApp continues to prioritize user control over their visibility, ensuring a balance between convenience and confidentiality. It appears that WhatsApp is now widely testing this feature with the public, following its official announcement alongside several new tools aimed at enhancing the messaging and calling experience.
With the latest blog post on the official website, WhatsApp announced a series of new enhancements designed to streamline both messaging and calling on iOS and Android. One of the important features is the visible real-time online activity indicator in group chats, which now appears just below the group name. This detail helps users instantly gauge whether other members are currently active on WhatsApp, making it easier to decide when to initiate conversations or expect quicker replies. It's particularly helpful in group dynamics where timing can influence the flow of discussion, as a higher number of active members often means greater chances of immediate engagement and faster responses.
Another notable addition is the ability to manage group notifications more efficiently through a new setting that allows users to receive alerts only for specific interactions, such as mentions, replies, or messages from selected contacts. This helps reduce notification overload while ensuring that important messages still come through. It's worth noting that this was already the default behavior in previous versions, but WhatsApp is now making it more explicit to help users better understand the implications of muting a group.
WhatsApp has also expanded event functionality, making it possible to create events not just in groups but in one-on-one chats as well. Users can now indicate tentative attendance, bring a guest, set an end time for extended events, and keep key event details visible by pinning them in the chat. These improvements make WhatsApp a more practical tool for planning and coordination, both socially and professionally.
On the expressive side, WhatsApp has refined message reactions by allowing users to view existing reactions and simply tap to join in, making casual engagement more fluid. iPhone users also benefit from a new document scanning feature integrated directly into the app, making it easier to send scanned files without needing third-party tools. Additionally, iOS users now have the option to set WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp Business as their default app for messaging and calling, reflecting the growing role of the app as a primary communication hub.
The calling experience itself has been upgraded as well, with improved connection quality and the ability to zoom in during video calls for better detail. There's also more flexibility when adding participants to ongoing calls, allowing users to bring others in straight from a chat. WhatsApp has also improved community engagement by letting Channel admins share video updates and use QR codes to let other users quickly follow the channel, while followers can now view transcripts of voice messages for improved accessibility.
These updates reflect WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to make the app more dynamic, user-friendly, and responsive to real-life communication needs, reinforcing its place as a central tool for both everyday messaging and broader community interaction. With these enhancements, WhatsApp continues to adapt to the evolving ways people connect, making it an indispensable part of modern digital communication. Users can expect these features to roll out over the next few weeks on both Android and iOS, if they aren't already available.
Stay up-to-date on WhatsApp news by following WABetaInfo on X. You can also discover other new features for WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows.
Do you like this news? Please, let us know on X: we love hearing your feedback! If you're curious to see where you can find WABetaInfo, there is a dedicated page where you can discover our services.
In addition, we have set up a Discord Server where you can chat with other people, get help and advice, and stay up to date with the latest announcements from WABetaInfo.