WhatsApp’s Android settings menu gets rounded sections

WhatsApp is rebuilding its Android settings screen by replacing the current flat list with rounded, grouped sections, a redesign tied to WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.43.3. The new layout follows Google’s Material Design 3 Expressive style and breaks settings into visually separated blocks instead of one continuous page. It is still in development, though, so beta testers cannot use it yet.

WhatsApp’s Android settings screen gets rounded, grouped sections

Today, WhatsApp’s Android settings page uses a straightforward flat list of options. The redesign swaps that structure for grouped boxes with rounded edges, giving each cluster of settings a more distinct visual boundary. That is the clearest change in this update: not new controls, but a different way of presenting the same settings screen.

The interface direction matches Material Design 3 Expressive, which leans on separated sections and softer shapes rather than a dense list layout. For Android users, that usually means less visual scanning across one long page and clearer separation between categories. For teams that support staff or customers on WhatsApp, the practical effect is simple: screenshots, help docs, and training notes built around the current settings page may need to be refreshed once this ships.

Account, Privacy, and Notifications move into the new layout

The grouped design is expected to cover core settings areas including Account, Privacy, and Notifications. Those are among the sections people use most often when they manage profile access, adjust message and call behavior, or review app alerts. A cleaner structure could make those categories easier to spot at a glance, even if the underlying options stay exactly where users would expect them in functional terms.

That distinction matters here. There are no reported changes to how the settings themselves work, no new permissions flow, and no sign that WhatsApp is changing what these menus do. This is a visual refresh rather than a feature expansion, so the value for most users would come from easier recognition and a tidier layout, not from new settings capabilities.

The rollout is still open, and another Android tweak is in testing

There is still no confirmed release date for the redesigned settings screen. WhatsApp has tied the work to beta build 2.26.43.3, but the interface has not reached beta testers yet, which leaves regular Android availability further out. It is also unclear whether this settings redesign will arrive on its own or alongside other Android interface changes now in testing.

One of those separate tests affects the bottom navigation bar. In that experiment, the bar contracts when a user scrolls down and expands again when they scroll back up. It is a different tweak from the settings overhaul, but together they show WhatsApp continuing to refine the Android app’s visual structure without changing core messaging features.

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