WhatsApp launches a green dot for online contacts on Android
With the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.24.5 update, WhatsApp is rolling out a green dot that appears on a contact's profile photo when they are online. The indicator is currently visible in the chat info screen, and it gives users a quick indicator when the contact is available. WhatsApp is currently working to make online status more visible, and this update is another step in that direction.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Green dot for online contacts |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.24.5 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, Muhammad Hammad, and rubiokarim, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp is testing a feature to manage chat backups on Android! |
WhatsApp is working on a dedicated section to show online contacts
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.13.3 update, we announced a feature that lets users see a list of their contacts who are currently online. This feature will show contacts who are available or recently active. Users will be able to sort the list by name or by online status. Additionally, contacts who have hidden their last seen or online status do not appear in the list, as the feature respects their privacy settings. WhatsApp is also planning to display a green dot for online contacts in the Contacts hub to make their availability immediately recognizable at a glance.
WhatsApp is now rolling out the green dot in other parts of the app
The Contacts hub is still under development, and it is not yet available to users. However, WhatsApp is now introducing the green dot starting with the chat info screen. We discovered the news after installing the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.24.5 update, which is available on the Google Play Store. Specifically, WhatsApp is rolling out the green dot for online contacts to some beta testers.
What the green dot represents on messaging apps
The green dot is an indicator that appears on a contact's profile photo when they are currently active. It is a common pattern used by many messaging and social apps to communicate real-time availability without requiring any interaction. The green dot makes this information visible at a glance, without opening a conversation to check. On WhatsApp, a contact appears as online when they have the app open and when their privacy settings allow others to see their online status.
WhatsApp is now showing the green dot in the chat info screen
With the latest update, WhatsApp is introducing the green dot in the chat info screen. When users open the chat info screen of a conversation with a contact who is currently online, they will see a green dot on their profile photo. For example, if a user opens the chat info screen while their contact is using WhatsApp at that moment, the green dot will appear on the profile photo at the top of the screen. Note that WhatsApp shows the green dot only if the contact's privacy settings allow their online status to be visible.
WhatsApp is replacing the online label with the green dot
Before this update, the chat info screen already showed whether a contact was online. However, this information only appeared as a text label displayed below the profile photo. WhatsApp is now replacing the label with the green dot directly on the profile photo. The green dot communicates the same information, but in a way that is easier to notice at a glance. This change aligns the chat info screen with the design direction WhatsApp will take for the Contacts hub, where the app displays the online status through a green dot.
The green dot is currently limited to the chat info screen on WhatsApp
At the moment, the green dot only appears in the chat info screen. This means that it is not yet visible in the chat list or in the conversation screen. Since WhatsApp is currently developing the Contacts hub, which is built around showing online status prominently, we expect further developments in this direction. As a result, the green dot will likely reach more sections of the app in a future update.
WhatsApp is rolling out the green dot for online contacts to Android beta testers
The green dot for online contacts is currently available to a limited number of beta testers who have installed the latest WhatsApp beta for Android update. WhatsApp is gradually expanding access to this feature, so it may not yet be visible on your device. If you do not see the green dot in the chat info screen after updating the app, note that it will appear in the coming weeks. WhatsApp has not shared an official timeline for the stable release, but we expect it to reach more users in the future.
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