Illustration of WhatsApp’s Android beta Chats-tab filter for mentions and direct replies.
WhatsApp is testing a Mentions and Replies filter in the Chats tab for selected Android beta testers on version 2.26.42.12, giving users one place to see conversations where they were tagged or received a direct reply. The feature is limited to some beta users through the Google Play Beta Program for now, not the wider Android base. Its main job is practical: in busy group chats and Communities, it pulls direct interactions into a single view so users do not have to dig through multiple threads to find what needs attention.
Android beta testers get a new filter inside the existing Chats tab
This is not a separate inbox or a broader redesign of WhatsApp navigation. The Mentions and Replies option sits inside the existing Chats tab, alongside WhatsApp’s broader use of chat filters, and is meant to narrow the chat list to the conversations most likely to need a response. Instead of making users open one group after another, it collects chats where someone mentioned them directly or replied to one of their messages.
For operators who run high-volume WhatsApp workflows, that changes a small but repetitive task. A sales lead tagged in a customer group, an operations manager pulled into an internal thread, or a team member answered directly inside a crowded chat can all surface through the same filter. In practice, that means less inbox scanning and a faster path to the messages that are addressed to you.
A cleaner way to recover missed interactions in groups and Communities
The feature is built for a common WhatsApp problem: important direct interactions can disappear into active chats once notifications are cleared. By grouping mentions and replies in one place, WhatsApp is trying to make those missed items easier to recover later, especially when a user is juggling several active conversations at once. That matters most in group-heavy use cases where the volume of routine messages can bury a direct question or instruction.
The same logic extends to Communities, not just standard group chats. Mentions and replies inside community subgroups can also surface in the filter, which is useful for people coordinating across several linked conversations. For business users, that could help with customer follow-ups, internal handoffs, or moderator-style work where direct prompts are easy to miss when chats move quickly.
Users can hide the filter or move it into More
WhatsApp is also giving users control over how visible the filter is in the Chats tab. If someone wants quick access to Mentions and Replies, it can stay in the main chat list. If they would rather keep the inbox lean, they can remove the filter from the main view or move it into a More section.
That design choice matters because it keeps the feature optional inside the existing layout. Users who rely on it can keep it close at hand, while users who prefer a simpler Chats tab do not have to leave an extra filter pinned in place all the time. It makes the change feel like a targeted workflow tool rather than a forced interface shift.
No public rollout date for a wider release
For now, availability remains the biggest open question. WhatsApp has not announced a public release date for the Mentions and Replies filter, and a wider Android rollout is still unconfirmed. It is also not clear whether the feature will come to iPhone.
The practical takeaway is narrow but useful: if you are not in the selected Android beta group on version 2.26.42.12, you should not expect to see this filter yet. But for teams that manage busy chats every day, the test points to a simple improvement: faster access to direct mentions and replies without sorting through the full message stream first.
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
