WhatsApp is redesigning familiar iPhone surfaces, including Settings and chat navigation.
WhatsApp is redesigning several familiar iPhone surfaces at once, including Settings, chat navigation and the video player, as Liquid Glass styling spreads across the app. On iPhone, that means some controls are moving out of their current spots: the main Settings page is being simplified, and some chat actions are shifting into the chat info screen. Parts of this broader navigation rethink are still unsettled, especially around tabs and channels, but WhatsApp is already pairing the interface changes with a more practical restriction: logins on outdated iOS and Android software are being blocked until the operating system is updated.
Settings, chat controls, and the Liquid Glass shift on iPhone
WhatsApp already uses a tabbed layout on iPhone, so these changes affect the entry points users open every day rather than adding a new section to learn. The clearest example is Settings, where the app is simplifying the main page by moving secondary options into a separate menu. The result is a shorter top-level Settings screen that keeps the primary controls in view and pushes less-used options one step deeper.
Chat navigation is changing at the same time. WhatsApp is moving some actions into the chat info screen instead of keeping them in the main chat navigation area, and it is also addressing readability problems in the navigation bar. For teams that use WhatsApp for support, sales or internal coordination, the practical effect is simple: some routine controls may now be found in different places, so training docs and internal walkthroughs may need a refresh.
That new chat navigation is not showing up for every account in the same way. WhatsApp has tied it to accounts that already have Liquid Glass enabled, which suggests the design changes are being introduced as part of a broader visual update rather than as a standalone navigation release. WhatsApp has not made the full rollout picture clear, so users may see a mix of old and new interface patterns depending on account status.
Liquid Glass reaches the video player
The redesign is not limited to menus and tabs. WhatsApp is also extending the Liquid Glass treatment to the iPhone video player, including a redesigned progress bar that matches the more translucent interface style appearing elsewhere in the app. That makes the video player a companion change to the wider iOS refresh, not a separate product launch with its own workflow.
This detail matters because it shows the visual overhaul is spreading across multiple surfaces inside the app. Instead of stopping at Settings or navigation chrome, WhatsApp is applying the same design language to playback controls that users hit inside chats and channel content. For operators who share product demos, support clips or internal updates over WhatsApp, the underlying function stays the same, but the interface around playback is being redrawn.
Channels, Updates, and the Contacts tab question
WhatsApp is also working on a broader navigation change that could shift channels into the Chats tab and remove the Updates tab in favor of a Contacts tab. That would be a bigger structural move than the Settings cleanup because it changes where users go to find channel content inside the app. For businesses and community operators that use channels alongside direct chats, that could alter daily navigation patterns more than any icon or styling refresh.
The exact layout is still not settled. WhatsApp is testing multiple configurations, so it is not yet clear whether channels will fully move into Chats, when a Contacts tab would arrive, or which version of the tab structure will stick. What is clear is the direction of travel: WhatsApp is exploring a more consolidated iPhone layout where chats, channels and contact discovery sit closer together than they do in the current tab setup.
Outdated phones are being locked out
Alongside the interface work, WhatsApp is tightening device compatibility in a way that has immediate consequences. Login attempts on outdated iOS and Android software are being blocked until the device operating system is updated. The affected version numbers have not been specified, but the user impact is straightforward: if a phone cannot update, or is left behind on old software, it may lose access to WhatsApp altogether.
For organizations that run WhatsApp across frontline teams, shared devices or bring-your-own-device setups, this is the change with the clearest operational risk. A redesigned Settings page can slow people down for a day; a blocked login can stop work immediately. The near-term takeaway is to watch for interface shifts on iPhone, but also to make sure the phones your team depends on are still receiving OS updates before access is interrupted.
Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
About the author
Samarth Agrawal is an AI and technology professional who writes about WhatsApp, automation, and emerging AI trends. He focuses on simplifying complex tech updates into practical insights for businesses, creators, and everyday users
