WhatsApp tests spoiler messages that hide text until tapped

WhatsApp is testing a spoiler messages feature that hides selected text behind a blurred or blocked layer until the recipient taps to reveal it. The option is still under development and has appeared in recent beta builds, with no confirmed public rollout date yet.

Spoiler formatting joins WhatsApp’s text tools

The feature sits inside WhatsApp’s message composer as another formatting option, alongside Bold, Italic, Strikethrough and Monospace. Instead of being a separate mode, it works on a chosen portion of text inside a normal message.

A user can type or paste a message, select the part they want covered, and apply the Spoiler option before sending. The hidden section is then masked in the outgoing message, while the rest of the text remains visible as usual.

That makes Spoiler a simple formatting tool rather than a new chat type. The practical change is in how the recipient first sees the message: the selected text is not readable at a glance.

How the hidden-message flow works in chat

On the receiving side, the concealed text shows up in the chat thread with a blur or grey bar over it. The content stays covered until the recipient taps the message bubble to reveal it.

The idea is useful for messages that should not be visible immediately, including OTPs, passwords and surprise-style notes. In group chats, it can also keep details from being exposed to everyone at once, while still leaving each person free to open the hidden text when they want.

The behavior closely matches spoiler tags used on other platforms: the sender marks the sensitive part in advance, and the reader chooses when to uncover it. In WhatsApp’s case, the effect is limited to text for now.

Testing status and rollout questions

The spoiler feature is still in testing and has been spotted in beta builds. Wider rollout timing is not confirmed, and it is not yet clear whether WhatsApp will keep it limited to beta users for a while before opening it more broadly.

The final name, interface details and reveal behavior could still change before launch. What is already visible, though, is the core function: selected text can be hidden before sending, then uncovered with a tap on the receiving side.

Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only.