WhatsApp is currently working on the ability to choose a cover photo on the iOS app. This feature will let users personalize their profile, while also offering privacy settings that allow them to control who can see the cover photo.
| Key points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Cover photo |
| 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 Developing Secondary Accounts for Parental Control and Interaction Limits! |
| Previous article: | WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.2.10.70: what's new? WhatsApp is working on a feature that replaces Tenor with the Klipy GIF provider! |
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 cover photos, allowing users to personalize their profile with a large image in the future. See what else has been announced this week.
WhatsApp is rolling out sticker suggestions for iOS beta
Following the release of the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.1.10.72 update, some beta testers may get suggestions for stickers as they type their messages. The app automatically suggests stickers based on emojis users enter in the text field. As a result, this feature works only for those stickers associated with emojis during their creation. Official sticker packs released by WhatsApp and some collections created using third-party apps are already compatible with this feature, as each stickers may be associated with an emoji.
WhatsApp is developing cover photos privacy for iOS
The WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.1.10.73 update allowed us to get more details about cover photos, a new feature scheduled for release in the future. This functionality will allow users to personalize their profile by showing a wide photo. With users always in control, they will be able to add, edit, and remove the cover photo at any time. Now, WhatsApp is also working on bringing privacy settings to cover photos. With privacy settings, users will be even more in control over who can see their cover photos.
WhatsApp is developing username key feature for first-time chats
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.2.2 update, we announced a feature that requires a username key when starting a chat for the first time. While still under development, this feature promises an additional layer of privacy to username accounts. Choosing a username for your account may expose it in the global search. This may let unknown accounts from reaching out to you by simply entering your username. With the username key, others will need to enter this code to start any messaging and calling interaction with you.
WhatsApp is rolling out clearer link previews in chats on iOS
The WhatsApp for iOS 26.1.74 update on the App Store lets some users experience clearer link previews to make links easier to read. Instead of displaying very long links, WhatsApp only displays essential details such as the image preview, the protocol used by the website, the second-level domain name, and the top-level domain name. This new organization makes viewing shared links very intuitive and clean, as it minimizes disruption to chats and groups. However, users can still see the full path by tapping and holding on the domain name in the message bubble.
WhatsApp is rolling out a status privacy info feature on Android
After installing the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.2.9 update from the Google Play Store, some beta testers can double-check the privacy settings applied to each status update. In the overflow menu within the viewers sheet, users can open the Audience section. Here, it's possible to see the privacy settings used for that specific status update. Additionally, users can also verify if the selected audience can reshare their status update. This additional control lets users check if the status update was shared with the intended audience even after its creation.
WhatsApp is developing Klipy integration for the iOS app
The WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.2.10.70 update includes insights about Klipy, a new GIF provider. WhatsApp is going to replace Tenor with Klipy, as Tenor announced the shutdown of their official API on June 30, 2026. This replacement will allow users to continue searching for GIFs without experiencing any interruption. The transition will be silent, so users won't need to do anything to migrate between the two services. It's worth noting that there are no plans to migrate for GIPHY users, and nothing will change for them.
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.
Stay Connected with WABetaInfo
Following WABetaInfo on X is the best way to stay informed about new features under development and those released to WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web, and Desktop. We love hearing your feedback, so let us know what you think! You can also explore our dedicated page to discover all our services, or join our Discord Server to chat with others, get help and advice, and stay up to date with the latest WABetaInfo announcements.