WhatsApp News, Latest Features & Updates in 2026

WhatsApp is letting users reserve usernames now, before the phone-number-free messaging rollout reaches everyone.

WhatsApp’s iPad app is live with calls, sharing and multitasking, while Android tablets are being tested for primary-device mode.

India has asked Meta to delay WhatsApp usernames until fraud, impersonation and phishing safeguards are reviewed.

WhatsApp now bundles chat locks, disappearing messages, date search, transcription, polls, and the Updates tab.

WhatsApp has opened username reservations in Settings ahead of a phased launch that lets people hide phone numbers on first contact.

WhatsApp is opening username reservations now, before a later rollout that will let people chat without sharing a phone number.

WhatsApp is rolling out channel update search on iPhone in version 26.24.72, with Android having it first.

WhatsApp is rolling out its Liquid Glass design to the iPad app, with a floating tab bar and partial availability.

WhatsApp is adding a pre-open warning for unknown numbers and bringing channel search to iPhone in version 26.24.72.

Meta is adding a controllable AI agent to WhatsApp Business for 24/7 replies, but access is still limited to select markets.

WhatsApp is adding a pre-chat warning for unknown numbers that shows trust signals before you reply, with rollout still unclear.

WhatsApp is rolling out a text-based About/status update with custom fonts, backgrounds, 24-hour expiry, and chat-profile visibility.

WhatsApp Business on iPhone adds automation, catalogs, backups, and a 5-device limit — with status music still uneven by region.

WhatsApp is testing a compact Status tray in Chats, with up to three contacts visible and the full view still in Updates.

WhatsApp will stop supporting Android 5.0 and 5.1 on Sept. 8, 2026, forcing older phone users to upgrade or back up chats.

WhatsApp is warning users about a device-linking scam that can expose chats, media and impersonate accounts.

WhatsApp is testing two anti-scam prompts that warn users before or during chats with unknown numbers.

WhatsApp is testing an Android home-screen widget that lets users start and send voice notes without opening the app first.

WhatsApp’s Google Drive backups use separate encryption, but not the app’s normal end-to-end model.

WhatsApp Web is testing group voice and video calls for beta users, with 32-person support, call links, and screen sharing.

WhatsApp has launched Business AI in India for eligible WhatsApp Business users, with 24/7 support, local languages, and UPI payments coming soon.

WhatsApp is testing View Once text messages on iPhone, extending the disappearing format beyond photos and videos.

WhatsApp is rolling out a cleaner iPhone chat-list layout with a Drafts category for unfinished messages.

WhatsApp is rolling out a Football Central 2026 hub ahead of the FIFA World Cup, with confirmed access on the latest iPhone update.

Google has turned on on-device scam detection for Pixel phones, while WhatsApp support remains unconfirmed.

WhatsApp is testing a logout option that lets some beta users sign out without deleting chats or reinstalling the app.

WhatsApp is testing spoiler messages that hide selected text until tapped, with rollout timing still unclear.

WhatsApp is testing a logout option for primary phones that lets users step away without uninstalling the app or losing data.

WhatsApp is testing Channel Status, a 24-hour post format for channel admins in iOS beta build 26.16.10.70.

WhatsApp will stop working on Android 5.0 and 5.1 phones on Sept. 8, 2026, with Android 6.0 becoming the new minimum.

WhatsApp is highlighting anti-scam tools like Silence Unknown Callers and Context Cards to curb suspicious calls and chats.

Gujarat has signed an MoU with Meta to bring 20 citizen services to WhatsApp, including certificates, records and grievance help.

WhatsApp is testing a Meta AI chat organization feature in Android beta 2.26.9.4, with privacy questions still open.

Apple and WhatsApp are warning users about spyware attacks that can compromise phones silently.

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton sued Meta and WhatsApp over claims the app misled users about encryption and privacy.

WhatsApp is testing usernames with privacy options that could limit phone number exposure and reduce spam.

Just Eat Takeaway is piloting WhatsApp ordering in Spain and the Netherlands, with AI recommendations and app-based checkout.

WhatsApp is capping free business broadcast messages and rolling out message credits, with limits that vary by region.

WhatsApp is testing a tabbed group info screen on Android beta, with Members, Media and Settings shortcuts.

WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned iOS attachment sheet that surfaces recent photos and videos inside the chat.

WhatsApp is testing Status updates at the top of the Chats tab, with the change still in development on iOS and Android beta builds.

EPFO’s WhatsApp help option appears in regional helpline listings, but current coverage and live status are not fully clear.

WhatsApp is developing an Android Contacts hub that shows which contacts are online at a glance.

WhatsApp is rolling out a contact grid in the forward picker on iPhone, replacing the vertical frequent contacts list for some users.

WhatsApp is testing sticker reactions for messages, with a separate Status update also adding stickers and celebratory emoji animations.

WhatsApp is testing a Close Friends list for Status posts, with a distinct ring for selected contacts.

Some WhatsApp Web users are seeing login failures tied to passkey scans, with redirects to Facebook instead of sign-in.

WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned iPhone media sheet with recent photos and videos easier to reach inside a chat.

WhatsApp is testing an Android beta feature that moves business chats into a separate section to cut inbox clutter.

WhatsApp is rolling out channel replies for admins in beta, linking responses to the original update on iOS and Android.

Some WhatsApp users can now share Status updates with recent contacts even if the number isn’t saved.

WhatsApp is adding private AI writing help and Meta AI photo tools for drafting messages and editing images inside chats.

WhatsApp is testing an After Reading timer on Android that makes messages disappear after they’re opened.

WhatsApp Business is refreshing its iPhone app icon in TestFlight beta, matching the newer WhatsApp Messenger look.

WhatsApp status visibility is under fresh scrutiny as users ask whether people outside their contacts can see updates.

WhatsApp is rolling out Incognito Chat for Meta AI, a private mode that keeps questions and answers out of Meta\u2019s view

WhatsApp is testing quick reactions for Status updates on Android, with the action appearing on the Status screen

WhatsApp is testing a paid Plus tier with themes, extra chat pins and premium stickers for a limited group of users

WhatsApp is testing an automatic welcome message for group chats on Android. Rollout timing and customization remain unclear.

WhatsApp is testing a storage cleanup tool for channels in Android beta, with related selective-delete controls also in development

WhatsApp Web is in line for chat themes, with colorful bubbles, wallpapers, and preset color options in a future update

Instagram DMs lose end-to-end encryption on May 8, 2026, with WhatsApp framed as the private-chat fallback.

WhatsApp is adding ads in Status and promoted Channels, with setup handled through Meta Ads Manager

WhatsApp is testing a paid Plus tier on iOS, with premium customization features rolling out to a limited number of users

WhatsApp is testing an Android interface update that swaps the app name for the logo in the top bar and adds floating chat bubbles for quicker replies.

WhatsApp has patched CVE-2025-55177 after the flaw was used in zero-click attacks tied to an Apple vulnerability.

WhatsApp for Android beta 2.26.18.5 surfaces work on a future widget for status updates, but the feature is not live for testers

The latest WhatsApp update brings dual-account support to iPhone, plus Meta AI tools for photo editing, drafting replies, and suggesting emojis in chats

WhatsApp is working on a redesign that would place Status updates inside the Chats tab rather than keeping them separate.

WhatsApp is testing a translucent Liquid Glass-style interface for its iPhone app, centered on the chat screen and bottom tab bar.

WhatsApp will stop working on Android devices running versions older than Android 6 in September 2026.

WhatsApp will stop supporting Android versions older than Android 6. Phones running Android 6 or newer will remain supported on the latest app version.

India users can now recharge prepaid mobile numbers inside WhatsApp, with support for Jio, Airtel and Vi rolling out in phases

WhatsApp sits inside two separate Meta legal disputes, one over private messages in California and another over social media addiction