# About Name: SheetWA Description: Latest 2026 WhatsApp news, feature launches, API updates, Meta announcements, automation trends, and messaging insights from SheetWA. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news](https://sheetwa.com/news) ## WhatsApp beta points to an iPhone backup alternative Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-20T03:04:44.369Z Meta Title: WhatsApp beta points to an iPhone backup alternative Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing an iPhone backup alternative to iCloud, with 2GB free, a $0.99 tier, and end-to-end encryption. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapps-iphone-backup-plan-adds-2gb-free-and-099-tier](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapps-iphone-backup-plan-adds-2gb-free-and-099-tier) WhatsApp is testing a first-party cloud backup option for iPhone chat history that would give users an alternative to iCloud, but iCloud remains the default for now and the feature is not yet working for beta testers. The option shows up in WhatsApp for iOS beta 26.28.10.16 through TestFlight, where code points to a backup destination picker inside chat backup settings. For WhatsApp-heavy iPhone users, the practical goal is straightforward: a separate backup path for chats without depending only on Apple’s storage tier. ## Beta code adds an iPhone backup destination inside WhatsApp settings The new setting is not in stable WhatsApp yet, and beta testers cannot use it as a live backup tool. What the code shows is a destination selector inside chat backup settings, which would let users choose where their iPhone chat history is stored. That is a notable shift from the current setup, where WhatsApp backups on iPhone go to iCloud by default. The timing is still open. WhatsApp has not set a launch window, and the feature should be treated as in development rather than as an imminent release. Even so, the presence of the picker in a named TestFlight build gives a clearer picture of where the product is heading than a generic rumor would. ## The storage tiers WhatsApp is testing WhatsApp’s plan includes 2GB of free storage on its own servers and a paid 50GB tier priced at about $0.99 per month. A 1TB option is also mentioned, but it is not finalized. For iPhone users, that would mean WhatsApp chats could move off the cramped 5GB iCloud free tier and onto a separate WhatsApp storage bucket, with enough free space to cover light backups and a paid plan for heavier use. The backups would be end-to-end encrypted by default. Encryption cannot be turned off, which makes the setup different from typical cloud storage products where security settings can vary by account or plan. In practical terms, that means the backup path is being built around privacy from the start rather than adding it later as an optional setting. ## Passkeys, passwords, and recovery options WhatsApp is also lining up several ways to secure the backup. Passkeys are the preferred option, but passwords and 64-digit encryption keys are supported too. That gives users different recovery paths depending on how they already manage account security. The backup flow is still not fully spelled out, especially for people who already rely on iCloud. It is not clear whether migration from existing iCloud backups will be automatic, manual, or a one-time transfer. What is clear is that WhatsApp is trying to make the feature usable for more than one type of operator, from passkey-first users to people who still rely on a password and key they can store separately. ## Why this matters for heavy iPhone users The real pressure point is iCloud’s 5GB free tier. For people who use WhatsApp heavily, especially with media-rich threads and long-running group chats, that limit can fill quickly. A first-party WhatsApp backup path would give iPhone users a dedicated place for chat storage and reduce dependence on Apple’s free allotment. Whether WhatsApp will eventually support restore between iPhone and Android is still unresolved. The Android backup work is separate, and WhatsApp has not said how or when either backup system will roll out. For now, the useful takeaway is narrower and more immediate: WhatsApp is building an encrypted backup alternative that could ease iCloud pressure, but it is still in beta and not ready for regular users. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp usernames hide phone numbers at first contact Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-18T02:03:24.604Z Meta Title: WhatsApp usernames hide phone numbers at first contact Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out usernames to select users, letting chats start without exposing a phone number while anti-impersonation checks kick in. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-usernames-hide-phone-numbers-at-first-contact](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-usernames-hide-phone-numbers-at-first-contact) WhatsApp has started a limited rollout of **usernames** on iOS and Android, letting select users begin a new chat without exposing a phone number at first contact. A number is still required to register and use a WhatsApp account, and the company is pairing the rollout with anti-impersonation safeguards. ## WhatsApp usernames begin appearing for select users For now, usernames are available only to a limited group of users on iOS and Android. For the people who do have access, the change is straightforward: a chat can start with a username instead of a phone number, which keeps the number out of the first exchange. That distinction matters because WhatsApp has long used the phone number as both account identity and contact handle. The new system changes the first-contact flow without changing the account setup model. Users still need a phone number to register and keep using WhatsApp, so the username layer sits on top of the existing account structure rather than replacing it. ## How username contact works in practice The new system is intentionally narrow. To reach someone, users have to share the exact full username, and there is no searchable public directory. Some accounts also need an additional username key before a conversation can begin. For operators, that adds a practical layer to onboarding and customer support: staff will need to know exactly what identifier to share and what a recipient must do next. ## Why the rollout matters for business users The clearest use cases are marketplace sales, community groups, and business outreach, where sharing a personal number can create unnecessary exposure. If a seller, support agent, or community manager can hand out a username instead of a phone number, the first message becomes less revealing while still staying inside WhatsApp’s normal chat flow. That gives businesses a cleaner way to manage initial contact, especially when the number itself is tied to a person rather than a role. It also changes how inbound messages are screened. Since users must know the exact username, the contact process becomes more deliberate, which can reduce accidental outreach but also demands clearer contact details in profiles, posts, and listings. ## WhatsApp adds guards as India presses on fraud risk WhatsApp is not opening the door without checks. The rollout includes reservation protections for certain public figures and organizations, limits on repeated username probing, automated abuse detection, and in-chat notices when a contact creates or changes a username. Those controls are aimed at the same problem the feature could create: a username can make impersonation feel more convincing than a plain phone number. India has asked Meta to halt the feature and explain how it will prevent fraud, even as the rollout continues. For businesses that rely on WhatsApp there, the question is not just when usernames arrive, but whether users can trust them enough to use them for first contact. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp’s iCloud-to-iPhone backup switch Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-15T02:03:21.509Z Meta Title: WhatsApp’s iCloud-to-iPhone backup switch Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing an iPhone backup service with WhatsApp storage, end-to-end encryption, passkeys, and 2GB free storage. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapps-iphone-backup-plan-includes-2gb-free-storage](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapps-iphone-backup-plan-includes-2gb-free-storage) WhatsApp is building a first-party cloud backup option for iPhone that would let users choose WhatsApp storage instead of iCloud inside chat backup settings. The feature is still in testing and has not rolled out broadly, but the user-facing change is clear: chat backups could live in WhatsApp’s own storage layer rather than Apple’s. In the latest iOS TestFlight build, the backup flow already shows a destination picker, which is the first sign of how the switch would work when it ships. ## WhatsApp’s new iPhone backup destination Right now, iPhone chat backups still rely on iCloud. WhatsApp’s in-development option would add a second destination inside the app itself, giving users a choice between Apple’s cloud and WhatsApp’s own backup service. That choice appears in chat backup settings, not in a separate setup screen, which keeps the change anchored to the place users already go to manage backups. The feature is not live for general users, and even beta access does not mean it is ready to use. What has surfaced so far is the interface for choosing a backup destination, not a full release. For iPhone users who keep important chats, media, and business threads in WhatsApp, the immediate payoff is control over where those backups sit. ## Encryption, passkeys, and the storage tiers under discussion WhatsApp’s own backup service is expected to default to end-to-end encryption. The WhatsApp storage option would protect backups without a user having to turn encryption on manually. The planned flow also includes passkey support, with password and 64-digit encryption-key fallbacks for account access. Storage is still being mapped out, but the current plan points to 2GB of free space. Above that, a 50GB paid tier is under discussion at around $0.99 per month, alongside a 1TB tier in development. Those numbers are not final, but they show the shape of the product: a backup service with small free storage for light use and paid tiers for heavier chat history or media retention. ## Android work and the rollout questions still open WhatsApp is also working on a similar backup alternative for Android, where it would replace Google Drive as the storage path. That makes the iPhone project look less like a one-off and more like a cross-platform backup plan under WhatsApp’s control. A launch date is still not set. It is also unclear whether the iPhone service will be limited to certain regions, beta testers, or account types at first, and WhatsApp has not explained how the new option will coexist with iCloud for existing users. Migration and restore behavior are still open questions, so the practical rollout details remain the main thing to watch next. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests birthday reminders for saved contacts Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-14T02:02:50.190Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests birthday reminders for saved contacts Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing birthday reminders for saved contacts, with in-app alerts and a birthdays section still under development. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-tests-birthday-reminders-for-saved-contacts](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-tests-birthday-reminders-for-saved-contacts) WhatsApp is testing a birthday-reminder feature that surfaces upcoming birthdays for saved contacts and sends an in-app alert when the day arrives. The feature is built around information already stored in your phone’s address book, so it only works for contacts whose date of birth has already been saved there. It is still under development and not available to beta testers yet, but the goal is clear: keep birthday follow-ups inside WhatsApp instead of pushing them into a separate calendar app. ## Birthday alerts built into saved WhatsApp contacts The new feature is not just a single reminder. WhatsApp is also building a dedicated birthdays section, giving users a place to scan upcoming birthdays in one view rather than waiting for a one-off notification to appear. When a birthday comes up, WhatsApp would trigger an in-app alert. The practical result is simple: users should be able to spot an upcoming birthday and send a message without switching apps or relying on memory. For operators who keep contact-heavy relationships moving inside WhatsApp, that is a useful small upgrade. ## The contacts-data requirement limits who shows up The feature depends on the birthday data already saved in the phone’s contacts. If a contact’s date of birth is missing from the address book, WhatsApp cannot generate a reminder for that person. That makes the feature only as complete as the contact list behind it. WhatsApp has also kept this separate from its regulatory birth-year collection. In other words, this is not a new data-collection flow for birthdays inside the app; it relies on existing contacts data that the user has already stored. If birthday details are already saved, WhatsApp may soon turn them into a timely reminder without adding another app to manage. ## Still under development, with no release window The feature has been spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.27.3, but it is not available to beta testers yet. No public release date or rollout window is confirmed, and it is still unclear whether the feature will arrive on iOS as well as Android. For now, the useful takeaway is that WhatsApp is building birthday reminders directly into its contact layer. If the feature does ship, it would give regular WhatsApp users a built-in way to catch birthdays before they slip by. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Web’s 50-theme upgrade still leaves scheduling missing Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-13T02:03:49.143Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Web’s 50-theme upgrade still leaves scheduling missing Meta Description: WhatsApp Web is developing nearly 50 chat themes, but native message scheduling is still missing for desktop users. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-web-50-theme-upgrade-scheduling-missing](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-web-50-theme-upgrade-scheduling-missing) WhatsApp Web is getting a major visual overhaul with nearly 50 new chat themes in development, but the update is not live yet, and desktop users still do not have native message scheduling. The theme system is expected to add color palettes, matching wallpapers, and message bubble color changes, with the option to use one default look across chats or assign different themes per conversation. For business users who rely on WhatsApp Web for follow-ups and customer messages, it is a welcome customization step, but not the workflow upgrade many still need. ## WhatsApp Web’s nearly 50-theme update The theme expansion is the bigger visible change in the works for **WhatsApp Web**. The design set is expected to include nearly 50 themes, giving users far more control over how chats look on desktop than they have today. Along with the palette changes, the experience is expected to extend to matching wallpapers and bubble colors, so the visual changes read as a full theme system rather than a single background swap. The setup also looks more flexible than a one-size-fits-all skin. Users should be able to choose a default theme for all chats or apply different themes to individual conversations, which matters for people who keep customer threads, team chats, and personal exchanges in the same browser session. That makes the update useful as an organizing aid as well as a cosmetic one. ## Theme choices stay on the user’s screen The theme changes are private. They are visible only on the user’s own screen, so the chat partner does not see them on their side. That keeps the update squarely in the visual customization lane rather than turning it into a shared-chat feature. The rollout is still pending. WhatsApp has not set an official release date for the theme system, and the scope of the rollout remains unclear, including whether it will begin with beta users, specific regions, or all web users at once. For now, the only safe reading is that the feature is in development, not available in stable WhatsApp Web. ## Desktop scheduling still lags behind the mobile workflow The more practical gap for operators is unchanged: WhatsApp Web still does not have a native message scheduler. WhatsApp is separately developing a **Schedule Send** feature, but it is not available to users yet. The native version is described as single-message only, with no recurring sends and no offline delivery. That leaves browser extensions as the working option for anyone who needs to queue reminders, follow-ups, or timed customer messages from a desktop browser today. WhatsApp Web still lacks native scheduling on desktop, so timed sends still require a browser extension for now. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp username reservations open as BSUID rollout begins Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-11T02:03:56.837Z Meta Title: WhatsApp username reservations open as BSUID rollout begins Meta Description: WhatsApp opens username reservations now, while businesses prepare for BSUID webhooks, missing phone numbers, and new contact-sharing flows. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-username-reservations-open-as-bsuid-rollout-begins](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-username-reservations-open-as-bsuid-rollout-begins) WhatsApp has started letting users reserve usernames now, ahead of a broader launch later this year, while business operators face a separate change under the hood: the WhatsApp Business Platform is moving to BSUIDs in webhooks and send logic. The reservation path is already appearing in-app by country, and the rollout is gradual, which means teams running WhatsApp workflows need to plan for both consumer username adoption and cases where phone numbers are no longer present in the data they receive. ## Username reservations open before the full rollout Reservations are available on the latest version of **WhatsApp** through **Settings > Account > Username**. WhatsApp says it is opening that step early because the app has more than 3 billion users, which makes handle overlap likely enough to matter before the full launch lands. The practical result is straightforward: users can claim a name now, while the broader username rollout is still to come later this year. WhatsApp has also said notifications will roll out country by country inside the app. That keeps the launch staggered rather than simultaneous, so some users will see the reservation option before others. For operators, that matters because user adoption will not arrive all at once, but the reservation window is open before the feature is widely live. ## Phone numbers stay hidden on first contact The consumer side of the feature is built around privacy. Once a user adopts a username, other people can reach them by exact username instead of phone number, and first-time messages can avoid exposing the phone number when username sharing is enabled. That shifts the default first interaction away from the mobile number that WhatsApp has traditionally used as the account identifier. The feature is optional for consumers, not a forced account change. That distinction matters for anyone used to treating a WhatsApp number as the only stable way to identify a person. Business usernames are separate again: they remain tied to a phone number, are searchable by exact match, and do not hide the business phone number. ## BSUID changes the business integration layer For WhatsApp Business Platform users, the bigger change is operational. WhatsApp is introducing **BSUID**, also referred to as B Suite, as a backend identifier that shows up in webhooks and replaces phone-number dependence in system logic. Meta says business integrations need to update webhook parsing and databases because WA ID may be missing for username adopters, while the user ID field carries the new backend identifier. Phone numbers will still appear in some cases. They remain visible when a user has not adopted a username, when the person is already stored in a business contact book, or during a rolling 30-day window after a prior phone-number interaction. WhatsApp is also adding a **request-contact-info** flow for templates and interactive messages, so businesses can ask natively for a phone number when they need it for CRM, compliance, or other workflow reasons. ## Rollout timing and the migration window The business-side rollout is already moving. Real BSUIDs started appearing in webhooks in early April 2026, API sends to BSUIDs were supported in May 2026, and users in some countries can begin adopting usernames later in June 2026. That gives businesses a short migration window to make sure webhook consumers, routing logic, and storage can handle both older phone-number-based records and the newer identifier flow. Some parts of the rollout are still not fully clear, including which countries have live user adoption at this stage and how broad the webhook impact will be across all event types. If your WhatsApp stack uses phone numbers for dedupe, routing, or record matching, it needs to be ready for a system where that number is not always the primary field. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp opens username reservations as India seeks a pause Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-10T02:03:27.947Z Meta Title: WhatsApp opens username reservations as India seeks a pause Meta Description: WhatsApp has opened username reservations ahead of launch, but India wants the rollout paused over scam and impersonation risks. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-opens-username-reservations-as-india-seeks-a-pause](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-opens-username-reservations-as-india-seeks-a-pause) WhatsApp has started letting users reserve usernames even though the feature is not yet live for general use, giving people a way to prepare for first-contact messaging without sharing a phone number. The reservation flow sits in **Settings > Account > Username** on the latest app version, and the company says the full rollout is planned for later this year and will arrive gradually across countries. India has already moved to slow that launch, asking WhatsApp to pause the rollout and explain the feature within three days. ## Username reservations are live before the feature itself The current account system is unchanged: WhatsApp still requires a phone number to create an account. What usernames are meant to change is the first interaction after that, especially when someone reaches out for the first time. With usernames enabled, a new contact can message a person or business without seeing the underlying phone number at the start. That makes the feature relevant well beyond consumer chat. For operators, sales teams, creators, and support desks, it offers a cleaner way to publish a contact identity without exposing a mobile number in every first exchange. Meta is also positioning the feature as a way for creators, small businesses, and organizations to align their WhatsApp identity with usernames already used on Instagram or Facebook. ## India moves to slow the rollout over fraud risks India’s government is pressing WhatsApp to stop the rollout for now. The notice asks for an explanation of the feature within three days and cites concerns about spam, impersonation, phishing, and so-called digital arrest scams. That puts a privacy-oriented product change into direct contact with a market that has more than 800 million WhatsApp users. The scale matters because WhatsApp has more than three billion users globally, and India is one of its biggest markets by far. Any change in how people identify themselves on the app has reach far beyond a niche privacy setting. For businesses that depend on WhatsApp for inbound leads, customer support, or order updates, even a short delay in rollout timing can affect how quickly they can adopt the new identity format. ## WhatsApp’s safeguards and the open rollout questions WhatsApp says usernames are optional, and phone numbers will still be required to create an account. The company also says it has built in controls aimed at abuse, including a username key, restrictions on high-profile names, and protection against lookalike names. Those are meant to reduce impersonation and make it harder for bad actors to copy recognizable handles. What remains unclear is how the India request will affect launch timing outside India, or whether it will stay a local pause. WhatsApp has only said usernames will roll out later this year, over the coming months, and gradually across countries. For now, the practical takeaway is straightforward: users can reserve a username, but the feature is not broadly live yet, and the regulatory response in India could still influence how the rollout unfolds. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## Reserve your WhatsApp handle before phone-number chats Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-06T02:03:46.089Z Meta Title: Reserve your WhatsApp handle before phone-number chats Meta Description: WhatsApp is letting users reserve usernames now, before the phone-number-free messaging rollout reaches everyone. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-opens-username-reservations-ahead-of-rollout](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-opens-username-reservations-ahead-of-rollout) WhatsApp is letting users reserve usernames now, but the actual username messaging feature is still rolling out gradually and is not live for everyone yet. Once it reaches an account, first-time contacts will be able to start a chat without seeing the user’s phone number. ## Reservations are open before usernames go live The reservation step is available now inside **WhatsApp**, even though username-based messaging itself has not been broadly activated. Users are being told to update to the latest version of the app before checking their account or profile settings for the option. WhatsApp says the broader release will continue over the coming months rather than arriving in a single launch window. For regular users, the practical value is simple: you can claim a handle before the feature reaches your account. For business operators and support teams, that lowers the risk of losing a recognizable name while the rollout is still moving account by account. ## The phone number drops out of first-time chats **WhatsApp usernames** are designed around a familiar problem on the app: contact sharing usually starts with a phone number. Once usernames are active, first-time contacts will see the username instead of the number, which gives people a way to share a cleaner identifier in group chats and first introductions. That change matters most in workflows where a number is too revealing or too cumbersome to hand out. WhatsApp says there is no public username directory, so someone still has to know the exact handle to start a conversation. ## Profile settings, a username key, and matching handles The reservation flow lives in the mobile app, not WhatsApp Web or Desktop. Users looking for it are being directed to the latest app version and then to their account or profile settings. That makes the feature something to check in-app rather than a separate web signup or admin console. WhatsApp also says an optional **username key** can sit in front of messaging as another layer before someone can reach you. That key is described as an extra safeguard, not a mandatory gate, so the main privacy control remains the username itself. Once usernames go live, users will also be able to block or report unwanted messages, and usernames can be changed or removed later. There is also a business-side angle. Creators, small businesses, and organizations can try to claim the same Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp, while other users can reserve a different handle in WhatsApp settings. For brands that already use a consistent identity across Meta apps, that gives them a chance to align their WhatsApp presence before the wider rollout lands. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp’s iPad app is here, Android tablets are next Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-04T02:03:06.018Z Meta Title: WhatsApp’s iPad app is here, Android tablets are next Meta Description: WhatsApp’s iPad app is live with calls, sharing and multitasking, while Android tablets are being tested for primary-device mode. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapps-ipad-app-is-here-android-tablets-are-next](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapps-ipad-app-is-here-android-tablets-are-next) WhatsApp now has an iPad app in the App Store, closing a long-standing gap in its device lineup and bringing messaging, voice and video calls, and media sharing to Apple tablets. The app keeps end-to-end encryption and multi-device syncing in place, and WhatsApp is also testing a separate Android tablet setup flow that lets users either link a tablet as a secondary device or transfer the account to make it primary. ## WhatsApp’s iPad app goes live The iPad version is available now to download from the App Store. For users who have relied on the phone app alone, that means WhatsApp finally works on a larger screen without losing the core message and call features that make it useful for day-to-day work. The app supports messaging, voice and video calls, and media sharing. It also keeps end-to-end encrypted chats and calls, along with multi-device syncing, so messages stay tied to the same account across devices instead of becoming a separate tablet-only setup. WhatsApp’s App Store listing describes the service as used by more than 2 billion people in 180+ countries. For support teams, field operators, and anyone handling WhatsApp across a shift, the iPad app puts chats, calls, and shared files on a bigger screen that is easier to manage for longer sessions. ## Built for iPadOS multitasking This is not just a resized phone app. WhatsApp for iPad supports **Stage Manager**, Split View, and Slide Over, which lets users keep chats open alongside other apps while working through tasks on the tablet. It also works with the **Magic Keyboard** and Apple Pencil. On calls, the app supports up to 32 people, plus screen sharing and switching between the front and back cameras. Those details matter for operators who use WhatsApp for group coordination, live troubleshooting, or quick check-ins where a phone screen is too small and a desktop client is not as practical. The result is a tablet experience that is aimed at real use on iPadOS rather than a stripped-down companion view. Users can move between messages, documents, and video calls without leaving the tablet workflow. ## Android tablets are next, but still in beta WhatsApp is taking a different step on Android tablets. A new setup screen being tested lets users choose between linking a tablet as a secondary device or transferring the account so the tablet becomes the primary device. That primary-device option would remove some of the limits that come with companion mode, including the 14-day logout rule and restrictions on live location and broadcast-list messaging. In practice, that would make an Android tablet less dependent on a phone staying active in the background. The iPad app is live now, while the Android tablet setup flow is still in beta testing. For now, iPad users can start using the new tablet app immediately, while Android users are watching a test that could bring tablets closer to full account ownership later on. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## India asks Meta to pause WhatsApp usernames over fraud fears Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-03T12:43:21.284Z Meta Title: India asks Meta to pause WhatsApp usernames over fraud fears Meta Description: India has asked Meta to delay WhatsApp usernames until fraud, impersonation and phishing safeguards are reviewed. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/india-asks-meta-to-pause-whatsapp-usernames-over-fraud-fears](https://sheetwa.com/news/india-asks-meta-to-pause-whatsapp-usernames-over-fraud-fears) India has asked Meta to delay WhatsApp’s username rollout in the country until consultations are complete over fraud, impersonation, phishing and digital-arrest scam risks. The feature is designed to let users connect without exposing their phone numbers, but phone numbers would still stay linked behind the scenes, a privacy upgrade now being treated as a fraud-prevention issue in India, WhatsApp’s biggest market. ## India's delay request lands on WhatsApp usernames The request is a pause, not a ban, and the government is asking Meta to hold the rollout until officials are satisfied with the safeguards. The concern is straightforward: usernames could make it easier for bad actors to pose as banks, government offices, employers, public figures or even trusted contacts in first-contact chats. India’s scale makes the dispute consequential. WhatsApp has more than half a billion users in the country, so even a feature that is meant to be optional can change how people and businesses handle unfamiliar messages at large volume. For operators who rely on WhatsApp for sales, support or onboarding, the issue is not just convenience. It is whether first-contact trust gets harder or easier to manage. ## How WhatsApp usernames change first-contact chats WhatsApp’s username layer is meant to give people a way to connect without sharing a phone number. That makes it useful for customer outreach, one-off support conversations and other situations where users do not want to expose their personal contact details. But the account’s phone number still remains attached in the background, so usernames are an extra identity layer rather than a replacement for the underlying account. That design is why regulators are paying attention. A username can make it easier to start a chat, but it can also give scammers another way to imitate legitimate accounts if the surrounding checks are weak. WhatsApp says the feature is not yet live in India, so the current question is when, and under what conditions, it will be allowed to move ahead. ## The safeguards WhatsApp is already pointing to WhatsApp has already described some guardrails around the feature. It has reserved usernames for prominent personalities and verified accounts, which is meant to reduce impersonation around high-profile names. It also plans to show extra context before replies to unknown senders, including the sender’s country of origin and whether that sender is already in a user’s contacts. The company has also framed usernames as an optional layer on top of existing accounts, so businesses can still rely on phone numbers while testing a less exposed way to start a conversation. The remaining question is whether India will want those protections formalized further before launch. ## Why the India pause matters for operators and support teams For business users, the practical effect is that teams should hold off on planning any WhatsApp-first-contact workflows around usernames in India until Meta gets a clear go-ahead. They should also watch for stronger verification prompts and the unknown-sender details WhatsApp says it can surface, especially for sales, support and onboarding chats. The next approval step is still unresolved. It is not clear when the rollout could resume or which safeguards Meta may have to formalize specifically for India. For now, the message for WhatsApp-heavy workflows is simple: first-contact trust is becoming a regulatory issue, and in India that could shape how the app’s next privacy feature reaches more than half a billion users. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp’s Updates tab, chat lock, and search tools Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-01T17:13:54.484Z Meta Title: WhatsApp’s Updates tab, chat lock, and search tools Meta Description: WhatsApp now bundles chat locks, disappearing messages, date search, transcription, polls, and the Updates tab. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/hidden-whatsapp-features](https://sheetwa.com/news/hidden-whatsapp-features) WhatsApp now puts several useful controls inside the app itself: the **Updates** tab for Status and Channels, disappearing messages, one-time-view media, **chat locking**, date-based search, voice transcription, polls, and event scheduling. For business users and operators running day-to-day communication through WhatsApp, the payoff is practical rather than flashy: less time spent digging through threads, better control over sensitive chats, and easier coordination inside groups. ## WhatsApp’s Updates tab now keeps Status and Channels together The clearest interface shift is the **Updates** tab, which now houses both Status and Channels. That replaces the older Status-only framing and puts public updates in one place instead of splitting them across different parts of the app. In practice, that makes it easier to find what a contact or channel has posted without treating Status as a separate feature. Status itself is more flexible than plain text. Users can post photos, videos, voice notes, links, and music-backed updates, and they can still control who sees them through privacy settings. WhatsApp’s Status updates are also temporary, disappearing after 24 hours, which keeps the format closer to a quick broadcast than a permanent post stream. ## The privacy controls that keep conversations out of sight WhatsApp also gives users a few ways to keep sensitive conversations private. **Disappearing messages** can be turned on with 24-hour, 7-day, or 90-day timers, and one-time-view photos and videos add another layer for messages that should not linger in a thread. Those tools are useful when a chat contains details that should not stay visible long after the exchange is finished. For a stronger barrier, **chat lock** or secret-chat style protection hides selected conversations behind a passcode or biometrics and keeps them out of the main chat list until they are unlocked. The exact label can vary, but the function is the same: it keeps sensitive threads out of sight on the device. Personal calls and messages still use end-to-end encryption, while profile photo, last seen, status, and read-receipt visibility can also be restricted. ## Search, transcription, polls, and scheduling inside busy chats For active chats, WhatsApp now includes tools that cut down on manual scrolling. Search can narrow messages by date, which is far faster than moving through an entire thread line by line. Voice notes can also be transcribed into text after the feature is enabled in chat settings, making it easier to scan audio messages when listening is not practical. Group workflows get a lift from **polls** and **event scheduling**. Polls help collect responses inside a chat instead of pushing people to another app, and scheduled events make coordination simpler when a team needs a date, time, or reminder in the same place where the conversation is already happening. The practical effect is fewer handoffs outside WhatsApp, which matters for operators trying to keep communication and follow-up in one thread. ## Status posts now carry more than a photo or text line Status is also doing more work than it used to. Alongside photos and videos, users can publish voice notes, links, and music, turning Status into a lightweight update channel rather than just a simple post format. Privacy controls still decide who can view those updates, so the audience can stay limited instead of public by default. A quick voice update, a link to share, or a short visual post can all live in the same place, which gives WhatsApp users more ways to move information without leaving the app. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp opens username reservations before full launch Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-07-01T02:02:57.212Z Meta Title: WhatsApp opens username reservations before full launch Meta Description: WhatsApp has opened username reservations in Settings ahead of a phased launch that lets people hide phone numbers on first contact. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-opens-username-reservations-before-full-launch](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-opens-username-reservations-before-full-launch) WhatsApp has opened username reservations ahead of a fuller launch planned for later this year, giving users a way to be contacted without sharing a phone number on first contact. The feature is now available in the latest app version under **Settings > Account > Username**, and WhatsApp says the rollout will expand gradually over the coming months, with in-app notices when it reaches each country. For a service with more than three billion users, that makes username setup a practical privacy move as much as an identity feature. ## Username reservations open inside WhatsApp Settings The first step is simple: reserve a username now, before the wider release arrives later this year. WhatsApp is treating this as a staged rollout rather than a global switch, so access will widen over time instead of landing everywhere at once. Users who have the feature will find it in the **account settings** menu, and WhatsApp says the app will notify them when the rollout reaches their country. That setup matters for businesses and operators who rely on WhatsApp as a customer-facing channel. Getting a handle early can make it easier to align a WhatsApp identity with the name already used elsewhere, especially for teams that want one consistent contact point across channels. It also signals that the company is moving usernames into the core product, not treating them as a side feature. ## Phone-number privacy becomes the default first contact The main change is straightforward: when someone reaches out by username, they do not automatically see your phone number. That shifts first contact away from a number-based identity and toward a username-based one, which is a cleaner fit for businesses, creators, and anyone who does not want to expose a mobile line to every new contact. WhatsApp is also adding an optional **username key**. With that in place, someone needs both the username and the key to send the first message, adding another gate before a new conversation starts. The company also says the system is private by design: there is no public browse list and no suggestion flow, so the exact username has to be known before anyone can reach out. ## Creators and businesses can carry over familiar handles WhatsApp is also carving out a path for creators, small businesses, and organizations to claim an existing Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp. That gives account owners a chance to carry a familiar handle across Meta’s apps instead of rebuilding their identity from scratch. The username system is being built for Android, iOS, Windows, and Web, so the company is aiming for a cross-platform identity layer rather than a mobile-only add-on. Some details are still not fully spelled out, including how handle claims will be enforced and whether reservation guarantees the same name at launch. Even so, the practical takeaway is clear: if WhatsApp usernames matter to your business, the window to reserve one has already opened, and the rollout is only moving outward from here. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp opens username reservations before rollout Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-30T02:02:58.655Z Meta Title: WhatsApp opens username reservations before rollout Meta Description: WhatsApp is opening username reservations now, before a later rollout that will let people chat without sharing a phone number. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-opens-username-reservations-before-rollout](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-opens-username-reservations-before-rollout) WhatsApp is opening username reservations now, ahead of a broader username launch later this year, with the reservation flow available in the latest app under **Settings > Account > Username**. The rollout is country-by-country and tied to in-app notification, and once usernames are live they will let people contact each other without sharing a phone number. ## Username reservations land in WhatsApp before the full launch The key change is timing: users can start claiming names before the full feature reaches everyone. WhatsApp says the broader username rollout will come later this year and then expand gradually over the coming months, which makes the reservation window the first practical chance to secure a handle. The path is already built into the latest version of the app. Users who have access can go to **Settings > Account > Username** and reserve a name there, but not every account will see the option at the same time. WhatsApp is pushing it out by country and says availability depends on an in-app notification. That early window matters because WhatsApp says it has more than three billion users. On a platform that large, common names and brand handles are likely to be scarce, so getting in early is the main way to avoid missing a recognizable username. ## Phone numbers stop being the default first contact Once usernames are live, people will be able to message each other without handing over a phone number first. That changes the starting point for new conversations, especially for anyone who uses WhatsApp to talk to customers, partners, or followers. WhatsApp is also building privacy controls around that shift. The company says there will be no public directory and no search suggestions, and first-time contacts will not see your phone number if you use a username. In other words, the exact handle still matters, but discovery is not meant to work like a searchable phonebook. An optional username key adds another layer of control over who can message you. WhatsApp has not fully spelled out every detail of how that key works, but the point is clear enough: usernames are meant to make contact easier without making accounts broadly open. ## Why businesses and creators should pay attention For creators, small businesses, and organizations, the most useful part of usernames is consistency. WhatsApp says users may be able to keep the same identity they use on Instagram or Facebook by reserving the matching handle on WhatsApp. That makes the reservation step more than a cosmetic change. If a business already uses a recognizable name across Meta’s apps, securing the WhatsApp version early can help keep customer-facing identity aligned before the rollout expands. The practical effect is straightforward: once usernames are active, customers may reach you without ever seeing your number, and the handle you claim now may become the main public entry point to your WhatsApp presence. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## Android got it first: WhatsApp channel search rolls out on iPhone Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-27T03:51:15.119Z Meta Title: WhatsApp version 26.24.72 adds channel search on iPhone Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out channel update search on iPhone in version 26.24.72, with Android having it first. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-channel-search-rolls-out-on-iphone](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-channel-search-rolls-out-on-iphone) WhatsApp is rolling out channel update search on iPhone, giving users a way to find specific posts inside channels they follow without scrolling through long histories. The feature is arriving gradually in WhatsApp version 26.24.72, so it may not be visible on every account yet. For people who rely on channels for announcements, references, or recurring updates, the change cuts down the time needed to dig up an older post. ## Channel search arrives inside WhatsApp’s iPhone details pages The search tool lives in a channel’s details page, where iPhone users can enter a keyword or phrase and move through matching results with up and down arrows. That makes it a targeted search, not a general WhatsApp-wide finder, and it stays focused on updates within the channel itself. In practical terms, it should make channel histories easier to use when a post was buried several days or weeks back. The setup is straightforward: open the channel details page, search for the term, then step through matches one by one. The feature is built for channel updates rather than a broader WhatsApp search. ## Android had channel search first Android users already had channel update search earlier, and the iPhone release is now catching up in WhatsApp version 26.24.72. If you switch between devices or manage channel-based workflows across teams, the feature now works the same way on iPhone after arriving on Android first. ## What it changes for regular channel followers The main benefit is simple: you no longer have to scroll through a long channel history to find a specific announcement, reference, or repeated update. That is useful for anyone monitoring product notices, policy changes, event reminders, or other posts that are easy to lose in a busy feed. The gradual rollout still means availability will vary by account, so some iPhone users may see it before others. It gives channel followers a faster way to retrieve older information without changing how channels work overall. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp brings Liquid Glass to iPad in limited rollout Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-26T13:18:05.914Z Meta Title: WhatsApp brings Liquid Glass to iPad in limited rollout Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out its Liquid Glass design to the iPad app, with a floating tab bar and partial availability. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-brings-liquid-glass-to-ipad](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-brings-liquid-glass-to-ipad) WhatsApp is rolling out its **Liquid Glass** design to the iPad app, bringing the translucent look already on iPhone to tablet users in a limited release. The update changes the tab bar, navigation bar, buttons, and context menu, with the tab bar now floating above the interface and the navigation bar becoming more transparent as users scroll. Access is still partial, though, and WhatsApp says it will expand over the coming weeks. ## Liquid Glass reaches the WhatsApp iPad app The iPad app is getting the same **Liquid Glass** style WhatsApp first introduced on iPhone. The change is visible in the tab bar, navigation bar, buttons, and context menu. One of the clearest changes is the tab bar, which now sits above the interface instead of blending into the bottom edge. That gives the app a more lifted, floating feel on the iPad screen. It is a visual change rather than a new feature set, but it brings the tablet version closer to the iPhone design language. ## What changes when you scroll and tap The redesign is especially noticeable during normal use. As users scroll, the navigation bar becomes more transparent, which gives the interface a lighter look without changing the basic navigation layout. Buttons and context menus also adopt the same translucent treatment, so the visual shift extends across the parts of the app people use repeatedly. For iPad users who move between phone and tablet, the shared design makes tabs, buttons, and navigation feel more familiar from one screen to the next. ## Availability is still limited The rollout is not finished yet. Only some users can see the new iPad design right now, and WhatsApp has not given an official full-rollout date. The company says access will expand over the coming weeks, which leaves the update in staged release rather than general availability. WhatsApp had already brought Liquid Glass to iPhone before extending it to iPad, but the tablet version is still moving into place. For now, some iPad users are already seeing the new translucent interface, while others will have to wait for the rollout to reach them. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp adds a warning before unknown-number chats open Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-26T10:07:30.817Z Meta Title: WhatsApp adds a warning before unknown-number chats open Meta Description: WhatsApp is adding a pre-open warning for unknown numbers and bringing channel search to iPhone in version 26.24.72. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-rolls-out-trust-warning-feature](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-rolls-out-trust-warning-feature) WhatsApp is rolling out a trust warning that appears before users open chats from unfamiliar numbers on Android and iPhone, giving people one more pause before they reply. The screen surfaces the sender’s registered country, whether the number is saved in the user’s contacts, and whether they share any WhatsApp groups. It is designed to slow down scam-prone conversations that start with an unexpected message, not to block them outright. ## Unknown-number chats now hit a trust screen first The warning appears before the chat opens, which gives users a moment to check who is contacting them before they respond. That matters for business accounts and operators who field inbound leads or customer questions from numbers they do not already know, since the first reply is often where social engineering starts. WhatsApp is using three simple context signals on the screen: the sender’s registered country, the contact-saved status of the number, and any shared groups between the two accounts. Those details do not reveal message content, but they do give the recipient a quick way to judge whether the contact looks legitimate or not. ## Continue, block, or report: without alerting the sender After the warning, users can continue, block, or report. If they choose not to proceed, the sender is not notified, so the recipient can back away without creating a visible signal on the other side. That makes the feature a friction layer rather than a full scam filter. It does not stop every risky message, and it does not eliminate the need for users to verify unfamiliar contacts, but it does create an extra checkpoint before a reply goes through. For teams using WhatsApp as a customer-facing channel, that extra checkpoint can reduce rushed responses to numbers that look suspicious at first glance. ## Channel search reaches iPhone after Android WhatsApp is also rolling out channel update search on iPhone after shipping it on Android first. On iPhone, the feature sits inside the Search button on a channel’s details page, and users can move through matches with up and down arrows instead of manually scrolling through long histories. The current iPhone rollout is tied to WhatsApp version 26.24.72 on the App Store and is expanding gradually to more accounts. That makes it a practical upgrade for anyone who tracks channel posts over time and needs to find an older update quickly, especially when a channel has a long archive of announcements. ## What is still unclear What remains open is the rollout scope. WhatsApp has not pinned down a launch date, region list, or percentage of users covered for the trust warning, and it is still unclear whether the prompt is live for all accounts or only some so far. The trigger point is also not specified. The available details do not say whether the trust warning appears on the first incoming message, when opening an existing thread, or in both cases. For channel search, it is still unclear whether the iPhone version covers archived channels, muted channels, or very large channel histories. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Business AI agent rollout is limited to select markets Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-26T08:36:09.168Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Business AI agent rollout is limited Meta Description: Meta is adding a controllable AI agent to WhatsApp Business for 24/7 replies, but access is still limited to select markets. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/metas-ai-agent-for-whatsapp-business-is-now-available-globally](https://sheetwa.com/news/metas-ai-agent-for-whatsapp-business-is-now-available-globally) Meta is rolling out a business-facing AI agent inside **WhatsApp Business** that can answer customer messages 24/7, handle routine support, product questions, product recommendations, and lead capture, and hand off to a human when needed. Businesses can also limit who it responds to, but access is still restricted to eligible accounts in select markets, so not every operator can turn it on yet. ## Meta’s AI agent arrives in WhatsApp Business The agent lives inside the **WhatsApp Business** app, not in the consumer version of WhatsApp. That matters for operators who use the app as a customer inbox, because the tool is aimed at inbound business conversations rather than personal chat features. Meta is positioning it for repetitive work: common customer questions, basic product information, recommendations, and lead capture. In practice, that means a business can use the agent to keep first replies moving outside office hours and reduce the number of routine messages that need an immediate human response. The core promise is simple enough: keep the inbox active around the clock without forcing a team member to be on duty for every basic question. For businesses that live inside WhatsApp, the value is in faster response times and less manual triage. ## Businesses can set the guardrails Meta is not handing businesses an untethered chatbot. Operators can limit the agent’s scope so it responds to everyone, only new customers, or customers who arrive from ads. That gives teams a way to test the system in a narrower slice of the funnel before letting it touch the full inbox. Human handoff is built in for sensitive or complex conversations. That keeps the agent in a support role rather than making it the final stop for every thread, which is important when a question needs judgment, escalation, or a person with context. The setup is also meant to be fast and no-code, with only a few steps required to get it running. For smaller teams without a dedicated automation stack, that lowers the bar for trying AI on the front line of customer messaging. ## The agent learns from company materials Meta says the agent can be trained on a business’s own materials, including past chats, websites, catalogs, Facebook Page posts, FAQs, documents, photos, and price lists. Those inputs give it a specific company context instead of relying on generic prompts alone. That setup is what makes the replies feel tied to the business, not just to WhatsApp in general. A customer asking about a product line, pricing, or a basic policy can get an answer shaped by the company’s existing content, which is more useful than a canned response that has to be rewritten by hand. For operators, the practical upside is consistency. The same materials already used by sales or support teams can now help power automated first responses, especially when the goal is to answer quickly and capture the lead before it goes cold. ## Rollout is still limited to select markets The catch is availability. Meta says the product is limited to eligible businesses in select markets for now, and it has not named the countries or regions in the initial rollout. That means the immediate question for most businesses is not how the agent works, but whether they can access it today. The rollout pace for additional markets is still unclear, so operators outside the current launch set will have to wait for broader availability before they can test it in production. For WhatsApp-heavy businesses, the update is still significant even with the limited rollout: it gives Meta a native way to automate first-contact replies, but only for a subset of businesses at this stage. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## The WhatsApp screen that appears before you reply Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-25T17:55:09.116Z Meta Title: The WhatsApp screen that appears before you reply Meta Description: WhatsApp is adding a pre-chat warning for unknown numbers that shows trust signals before you reply, with rollout still unclear. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-rolls-out-new-pre-screen-safety-warnings-globally](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-rolls-out-new-pre-screen-safety-warnings-globally) WhatsApp is adding a pre-chat warning for unknown or unsaved numbers that shows trust signals before you reply. The screen surfaces where the number is registered, whether it is saved in your contacts, and whether you share any groups with that account. Users can still continue, cancel, or block the interaction, and the other person is not notified. Rollout status is not fully settled yet, with current availability appearing to be in testing or staged deployment rather than a finished global release. ## The warning screen for unknown WhatsApp numbers The new prompt is aimed at conversations with numbers WhatsApp does not already recognize as saved contacts. Instead of letting a message thread proceed without interruption, it inserts an extra step before the user answers or continues. The warning is meant to show practical context, not just a generic safety banner. Among the details tied to the number are its registration location, whether it is already stored as a contact, and whether it shares any groups with the user. Those signals are designed to help separate a normal first-time outreach from a message that deserves more caution. ## Choosing to continue, cancel, or block After seeing the prompt, users are not locked out of the chat. They can move ahead with the conversation, or stop it immediately by canceling or blocking the interaction. WhatsApp also keeps that choice quiet on the other side: the person who sent the message is not notified if the recipient backs out. The practical aim is to cut down on scam and phishing contact from unfamiliar numbers. For people who use WhatsApp to handle sales leads, customer support, or vendor outreach, the prompt adds one more checkpoint before replying to a number that has not yet been verified. It also formalizes a habit WhatsApp has already pushed in its safety guidance: pause, question, and verify before engaging with unknown contacts. ## Rollout status and what is still unclear What is not fully clear yet is how broadly the feature is available. Coverage points to testing or a staged rollout, but not to a confirmed global release, and no specific app version, beta build, region, or device group has been pinned down. That means some users may not see the prompt yet, even if the feature is already appearing for others. The trigger moment is also still open. Some descriptions place the warning before opening a new chat, while others frame it as appearing when a message arrives inside the thread. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp’s About update adds colored text and 24-hour expiry Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-25T09:52:21.971Z Meta Title: WhatsApp’s About update adds colored text and 24-hour expiry Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out a text-based About/status update with custom fonts, backgrounds, 24-hour expiry, and chat-profile visibility. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-rolls-out-mentions-for-text-status-updates](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-rolls-out-mentions-for-text-status-updates) WhatsApp is rolling out a text-based About/status update that appears at the top of one-on-one chats and in profile views, giving users a short way to post an availability line, mood note, or quick thought. The update is not a photo or video status post. It uses a colored background and custom font options, and the default visibility window is 24 hours with timer and audience controls available. ## WhatsApp’s text status returns as a visible in-chat signal The feature sits on WhatsApp’s existing **About/status** surface, but it is designed to feel lighter and more immediate than a full post. Instead of sending a separate message, users can set a short line that others see inside the app, including at the top of a direct chat and on the profile page. That placement makes it useful for the kind of small signals people often leave in chat anyway: “in a meeting,” “back later,” or a brief thought meant to start a conversation. For business users and operators, it gives them a quick place to post “busy,” “out for lunch,” or “call me later” without opening a separate broadcast or reply thread. It is also a clearer fit for short operational updates than WhatsApp’s richer Status format, which is built around media. ## Custom fonts, background colors, and a 24-hour timer The update can be customized with font changes and background color choices, and at least one walkthrough shows emoji or sticker-style embellishments during creation. Another description says links can be added as well. The update is still text-based, so it stays closer to a note than a full Status story. By default, the post disappears after 24 hours. Visibility can be limited to contacts, and timer controls are part of the setup. That means a teammate or customer can see the update inside the chat or profile without digging through a bio, and the line clears itself the next day unless the user changes it. ## Available on Android, iPhone, and desktop, rollout details remain unclear The feature is described as available on Android and iOS, and it can also be viewed on desktop. That makes it more broadly usable than a phone-only experiment, especially for people who spend part of the day on WhatsApp Web or the desktop app. The one thing that is still not pinned down cleanly is rollout scope. Coverage uses different labels for the same surface: About, text status, and colored text-based status updates, and it does not make clear whether every user already has the feature or whether access still depends on app version or region. What is clear is the practical change: WhatsApp is putting a short, customizable status line back in a highly visible place inside chats and profiles, where it can work as a quick availability cue or conversation starter. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Business on iPhone: 5 devices, backups, and catalogs Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-25T09:10:26.066Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Business on iPhone: 5 devices, backups, catalogs Meta Description: WhatsApp Business on iPhone adds automation, catalogs, backups, and a 5-device limit — with status music still uneven by region. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-for-iphone](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-for-iphone) WhatsApp Business on iPhone is a free app built for business messaging, and it comes with a practical set of tools: **quick replies**, **away messages**, labels, a business profile, catalogs, and commerce features where supported. It also lets a business account run alongside a personal WhatsApp account on the same device if you use two different phone numbers. The current iPhone listing puts a hard limit on connected devices at five, or 10 for Meta Verified business accounts, with the caveat that Meta Verified for business is still not fully clear on live availability. ## WhatsApp Business on iPhone: the core tools and limits For operators who use WhatsApp as a customer channel, the setup is straightforward. During onboarding, WhatsApp Business can restore a backup from a personal WhatsApp account, carrying over messages, media, and contacts into the business profile. That makes it easier to move a phone number or a working chat history into a business workflow without starting from zero. The app is positioned around routine business tasks rather than one-off chat use. Quick replies and away messages handle common replies and after-hours responses, labels help organize conversations, and the business profile and catalog give customers a place to see basic company details and products. Ads that click to WhatsApp and in-app orders and payments are part of the mix in supported markets, which makes the app more than a simple messenger. The device cap is the most concrete operational limit. Standard accounts can connect up to five web-based devices or mobile phones, while Meta Verified business accounts can go up to 10. For teams handling customer follow-up across desktop and mobile, that difference matters directly: it sets how many people can stay inside the same WhatsApp workflow at once. ## The App Store details that shape day-to-day use The App Store listing gives a useful snapshot of scale and compatibility. WhatsApp Business shows a 4.7-star rating from 1.4 million ratings, ranks #18 in the Business category, and weighs 359.8 MB. It also requires iOS 15.1 or later, so older iPhones will not qualify. Apple’s privacy sheet for the app lists contacts, user content, identifiers, location, payment info, and diagnostics among the data categories tied to the product. For business users, that is the right place to check before rolling the app into a customer-facing workflow, especially if the account will be used for payments or shared by more than one operator. The listing also helps explain how personal and business use can coexist on one device. The business app can sit alongside a personal WhatsApp account as long as the phone numbers are different, which is useful for owners and operators who want to separate customer traffic from private messages without carrying two phones. ## Status music and the wider WhatsApp utility layer **Status music** is also showing up as a practical WhatsApp workflow, but it depends on an updated app and does not appear in every region. The basic flow is simple: open the status composer, choose a photo or video, and use the music option if it appears. Photos can carry up to 15 seconds of music, and videos can carry up to 60 seconds. That regional uncertainty is worth keeping in mind. If the music icon is missing, the most likely explanations are that the app is not updated or the feature has not reached the user’s market yet. In other words, status music is real, but it is not yet a universal iPhone feature. A separate third-party status saver app points to the same demand from another angle. It offers status backup and restore, quick chat by number, contact import, and sticker tools, although it is not affiliated with WhatsApp itself. The broader takeaway is simple: users are already treating WhatsApp status as a functional channel, not just a side feature, and the surrounding app ecosystem is building tools around that behavior. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp brings Status updates to the top of Chats Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-25T02:05:40.220Z Meta Title: WhatsApp brings Status updates to the top of Chats Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a compact Status tray in Chats, with up to three contacts visible and the full view still in Updates. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-updates-in-chats-tab](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-updates-in-chats-tab) WhatsApp is moving **Status** updates into the Chats tab for some beta testers, putting recent 24-hour posts at the top of the main chat list instead of keeping them only in Updates. The new surface is compact, shows only a few recent contacts at first glance, and is meant to surface Status earlier in the app’s main workflow. The full Status experience still lives in the Updates tab, which remains the complete hub for previews and the full contact list. ## Status updates move into the Chats tab The change gives **Status** a more prominent place inside WhatsApp’s inbox. Instead of being confined to the separate Updates tab, recent status posts now appear above chats in a smaller tray, so users can see them without switching tabs. WhatsApp’s existing Updates tab is not going away; it still holds the full Status view, including the broader set of previews and contacts. For WhatsApp Status, the company’s 24-hour ephemeral posting format, that puts posts closer to the main chat workflow. Business users who rely on Status for time-sensitive updates can surface those posts in the inbox where daily attention already goes. ## A compact tray with ranked contacts The Chats-tab version is tighter than the full Updates screen. It shows up to three recent contacts at once, with more status entries available by scrolling. In practice, that makes the surface feel like a quick access row rather than a full gallery. WhatsApp is also ranking the tray by relevance and interaction patterns, which means the people users engage with most should appear first. The tray is not limited to active conversations either: status updates from archived contacts and from people without an open chat can also show up. That widens visibility beyond the threads already sitting in the main inbox. ## Limited beta rollout on Android and iOS For now, the feature is limited to some beta testers and is rolling out gradually. WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.17.1 is tied to the rollout, and earlier Android beta 2.26.11.2 plus an iOS TestFlight reference also point to the same feature. That suggests the change is moving through different test builds rather than arriving everywhere at once. Availability is still uneven across platforms and builds. It is not yet clear whether the Chats-tab tray appears persistently or only after a pull-down gesture on some versions, and it is also unclear whether Android and iOS are at the same stage. The new Chats-tab tray is an additional surface, not a replacement for Status in Updates. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp ends Android 5.0 and 5.1 support on Sept. 8, 2026 Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-25T02:03:09.707Z Meta Title: WhatsApp ends Android 5.0 and 5.1 support Sept. 8, 2026 Meta Description: WhatsApp will stop supporting Android 5.0 and 5.1 on Sept. 8, 2026, forcing older phone users to upgrade or back up chats. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-android-6-support-drop](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-android-6-support-drop) WhatsApp will stop working on Android 5.0 and Android 5.1 on September 8, 2026, while Android 6.0 and newer will remain supported. The cutoff applies to both **WhatsApp Messenger** and **WhatsApp Business**, so anyone still running the app on an older phone needs to check their Android version, back up chats, and plan a move to newer hardware or a newer OS before the deadline. ## September 8, 2026 is the WhatsApp cutoff for Android 5.0 and 5.1 The change sets a new minimum for Android users: WhatsApp currently requires Android 5.0 or newer, but that floor is moving up to Android 6.0. After September 8, 2026, phones on Android 5.0 and 5.1 will lose access, while devices on Android 6.0 and above stay in the supported range. That makes this a version-specific cutoff, not a broad Android shutdown. The support drop covers both consumer and business use. WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business share the same underlying platform, so the change reaches personal chats and business inboxes at the same time. For operators who still rely on an older handset for customer messages, the date is the point to mark. ## Older Android phones will need an upgrade or replacement The main risk sits with older, ageing Android phones that no longer receive modern operating system updates. In those cases, there may be no path to Android 6.0, which means the phone itself will need to be replaced to keep WhatsApp working. Where an update is still available, moving the device to a newer Android version should preserve access. That matters most for phones tied to customer chats, sales numbers, or field operations. If a business number lives on hardware that cannot move past Android 5.1, WhatsApp will no longer be usable on that device after the cutoff. The practical fix is to identify the phone now, check its OS version directly, and decide whether it can be upgraded or needs to be migrated. ## Back up chats before the deadline WhatsApp is already warning affected Android users in-app ahead of the cutoff. The exact wording and rollout scope of that notice are not clear, but the message is simple enough: do not wait until the last day to sort out a device change. Backing up chats before September 8, 2026 is the safest next step for anyone who may need to switch phones. That preserves message history if the account has to move to newer hardware, and it gives users time to move data before support ends. For businesses in particular, the backup step is the difference between a routine migration and losing easy access to past customer threads on an old handset. ## iPhone and iPad users are not part of this change This cutoff is Android-only. iPhones and iPads are not affected, and WhatsApp on Apple devices continues to require iOS 15.1 or iPadOS 15.1 and later. The Android change also does not mean every WhatsApp user needs to act now; it is limited to phones still running Android 5.0 or 5.1. For anyone unsure whether a device is affected, the version number matters more than the handset name. Checking Android 6.0 or later is the key test. If a phone cannot get there, the support deadline is already set. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp adds warning for device-linking takeovers Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-24T18:00:51.459Z Meta Title: WhatsApp adds warning for device-linking takeovers Meta Description: WhatsApp is warning users about a device-linking scam that can expose chats, media and impersonate accounts. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-device-linking-scam-warning](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-device-linking-scam-warning) WhatsApp is moving to warn users about an account-takeover path that does not rely on stealing a password. The scam abuses WhatsApp’s device-linking flow: a user is tricked into approving a new linked device, and that approval can expose chats, media, and new incoming messages to someone else. Meta is adding a device-linkage warning to flag that risky step. ## The pairing prompt that hands over a WhatsApp account WhatsApp’s **linked devices** feature is meant to let people connect extra devices such as laptops or desktops. In this scam, the same flow becomes the entry point. Attackers can use either QR-code pairing or a numeric pairing code, and the numeric-code version is described as the easier route to abuse because it can look like a routine verification step. The lure often arrives from an account the victim already trusts, or one that has already been compromised. A common example is a message framed as a simple photo link, such as “I found your photo.” That kind of message lowers suspicion just enough for the user to approve the pairing prompt. Once the new device is linked, the attacker can read synced messages, receive new messages in real time, view photos, videos and voice notes, and send messages as the victim. For business users, that turns a single mistaken approval into direct access to customer threads, team chats and vendor conversations. ## Why the takeover stays hidden on the victim’s phone The attack is effective because the victim’s phone can keep working normally after the linked session is added. The account still looks active on the handset, while the attacker’s browser or desktop session stays connected in the background until it is manually removed. That delay makes the compromise harder to spot than a typical login alert. The same trusted identity then becomes the delivery system for the next lure. Attackers use the compromised account to send the same message pattern to contacts, which can push the scam into family groups, work chats and friend circles. In practice, one linked session can become a fast-moving impersonation channel inside the victim’s own network. ## Meta’s new warning and the checks users should make Meta is introducing a warning in WhatsApp for cases where an account is being linked to a new device. The warning tells users that approving the request could let someone else access messages. That is the key moment to slow down, because the risk is not a generic verification prompt but a new session gaining access to the account. The immediate user-side check is WhatsApp’s **Linked Devices** screen. Anything unfamiliar there should be removed right away. Users should also turn on **Two-Step Verification**, which adds another control if someone tries to take over the account again. For operators who depend on WhatsApp for daily communication, those two checks are the practical response to an unexpected pairing request. ## What is still unclear about the rollout The rollout status of Meta’s device-linkage warning is not fully clear. It is not confirmed whether the alert is already live everywhere or limited to certain regions or release stages. The scale of the abuse campaign is also not quantified in the available information. If a pairing request appears unexpectedly, check Linked Devices immediately and enable Two-Step Verification. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp’s two scam prompts for unknown chats Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-24T17:58:19.753Z Meta Title: WhatsApp’s two scam prompts for unknown chats Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing two anti-scam prompts that warn users before or during chats with unknown numbers. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-warning-for-unknown-number-chats](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-warning-for-unknown-number-chats) WhatsApp is testing two separate anti-scam prompts that intervene before a risky conversation goes further: one flags suspicious incoming messages from unknown contacts, and another warns users before they open or start a chat with an unfamiliar phone number. Both are advisory checks, not automatic blocks. The unfamiliar-number prompt can show the number’s country code or registration country, whether it is saved in your contacts, and whether the two accounts share any WhatsApp groups. ## Two anti-scam prompts now sit before the reply The first prompt appears inside a chat when an incoming message from an unknown contact looks suspicious. The second appears earlier, before a user opens or starts a conversation with a number that is not already familiar. That distinction matters for anyone handling inbound leads or messages from new customers, because one warning comes after contact has started and the other arrives before the first reply. In both cases, WhatsApp gives users a choice. They can continue, trust the chat, cancel, block, or report, depending on the prompt. Nothing is auto-blocked by default. That leaves the final decision with the user, which is a different model from a hard spam filter that simply removes access. ## The pre-chat warning shows the clues WhatsApp can see The unfamiliar-number warning is built around context, not a yes-or-no fraud label. Before a chat opens, WhatsApp can surface the number’s country code or registration country, whether the number is saved in contacts, and whether the two parties share any WhatsApp groups. Those clues are meant to help a user judge whether the number is likely legitimate before replying. The feature is also explicit about its limits. It is not a definitive fraud detector, and it may miss some risky contacts. For business users, that means the warning is best treated as a checkpoint, not a verdict. If a supplier, lead, or customer reaches out from a new number, the prompt gives one more moment to slow down before sharing information or moving the conversation forward. ## On-device checks, manual settings, and rollout limits The incoming-message scam check is designed to run on-device. That matters because the message contents do not need to be read on WhatsApp’s servers, and end-to-end encryption stays intact. In practical terms, the detection happens locally on the phone, rather than by sending chat content out for analysis. The scam-alert feature is still described as something users have to enable manually in settings. That makes it a closer fit for people who want an added layer of screening rather than a silent default. It also suggests the rollout is still uneven: one version of the warning has been tied to Android-first development, while the unfamiliar-number prompt is described as reaching Android and iOS. For now, the most useful takeaway is simple. WhatsApp is pushing its anti-scam checks earlier in the conversation, but the tools are still advisory. They can help users pause before trusting an unknown number, yet they will not catch every scam or impersonation attempt. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp’s widget skips the open-chat step Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-18T07:17:45.572Z Meta Title: WhatsApp’s widget skips the open-chat step Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing an Android home-screen widget that lets users start and send voice notes without opening the app first. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-android-voice-note-widget](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-android-voice-note-widget) WhatsApp is testing an Android home-screen widget that lets users start a voice recording and send it without opening the app first. The shortcut is still in development and has not reached beta testers yet, but the flow is straightforward: tap the widget, record the note, then choose one or more recipients after the recording ends. For frequent voice-note senders, that trims out the usual open-app, find-chat sequence and turns the task into a home-screen action. ## WhatsApp’s Android widget for voice notes The widget is designed as a **3x1** home-screen shortcut on Android. In practice, that means the control lives beside other widgets on the phone’s home screen rather than inside a chat thread or a settings menu. Once tapped, it opens a recording flow first and only then asks the user to pick who should receive the message. That order matters because it removes the step that usually slows voice-note sending down: opening WhatsApp and searching for the right conversation before recording. The feature was spotted in **WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.26.24.2**. That version detail is the clearest marker of where the work stands today, and it also shows this is still early-stage development rather than a release-ready feature. WhatsApp has not announced a launch date, so users should treat it as a work in progress rather than something coming in the next update. ## Single chats, group sends, and possible status sharing The widget is expected to handle both one-to-one sends and messages to multiple recipients. That broadens its use beyond a simple shortcut for individual chats, since the same recording could be sent to a single contact or routed to more than one person after the note is finished. For people who use voice notes across work chats, family groups, or recurring updates, that keeps the same fast path without forcing them back into the app between sends. The recorded voice note may also be shareable as a status update, though that is still an expected capability rather than a confirmed one. WhatsApp is also developing a separate home-screen widget for status updates, which suggests the company is building a small shortcut layer for common actions on Android rather than a one-off tool. ## Beta status and rollout uncertainty The important limitation is availability. The voice-message widget is not yet available to beta testers, and there is no announced release date. For now, the practical takeaway is narrow but clear: if the widget reaches release, it should make voice-note sending faster for Android users who use the feature often. Instead of opening WhatsApp, locating a chat, and then recording, the user would start from the home screen and complete the send afterward. That is not a platform overhaul, but it is a meaningful shortcut for a high-frequency action. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Google Drive backup encryption risk Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-17T09:34:03.766Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Google Drive backup encryption risk Meta Description: WhatsApp’s Google Drive backups use separate encryption, but not the app’s normal end-to-end model. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-encrypted-google-drive-backups](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-encrypted-google-drive-backups) WhatsApp’s Google Drive backups do not automatically carry the app’s normal end-to-end encryption with them. The key question is who controls the backup key, because one discussion describes the backup data as encrypted with AES-GCM-256 before storage, yet still recoverable on a new device. For business users who keep client or team history in WhatsApp, that difference decides whether a Google account compromise can expose archived chats. ## Google Drive backups sit outside WhatsApp’s normal end-to-end lock WhatsApp’s live chats are built around end-to-end encryption, but Google Drive backups work differently because they still have to be restorable after a device change. That means the saved copy has to be recoverable through an account or device-based path, which is exactly where exposure can creep in if someone gets into the Google account tied to the backup. The security model for a backup is not the same as the security model for a message as it moves between users. The unresolved point is key control. The backup question is less about whether the file is encrypted at all and more about whether the user holds the relevant key, or whether access depends on WhatsApp’s or Google’s recovery path. That distinction matters for anyone treating WhatsApp history as a business record, because the protection applied to live chats does not automatically extend to the saved copy in Google Drive. ## AES-GCM-256 and the backup file format underneath One source in the discussion describes WhatsApp chat backups as encrypted before storage with AES-GCM-256. That points to encryption at rest, not plain files sitting in Drive. The same discussion also references the backup file format `msgstore.db.crypt12`, which is another sign that the backup is handled as a separate data object rather than just a raw chat export. That technical detail is easy to miss, but it changes the reading of the issue. “Encrypted” does not mean the same thing as end-to-end encrypted in the way WhatsApp messages are while they are sent between devices. A backup can be encrypted and still fail to give the user the same privacy guarantees if the key is tied to account recovery or another system-controlled path. ## What a compromised Google account can expose If a Google account is compromised, WhatsApp backup contents can become exposed unless the backup is separately protected. That is the direct business risk: a stolen account can turn archived chat history into readable material, even if the live message service itself remains end-to-end encrypted. For operators who use WhatsApp to keep customer conversations, order details, or internal coordination, the backup may hold more sensitive material than the live app session. An Android-side backup encryption path is also mentioned at `Settings > Google > Backup > Backup encryption`, but its applicability to WhatsApp backups is not fully corroborated here. The practical takeaway is narrower: do not assume WhatsApp’s normal end-to-end protection automatically covers what gets saved to Google Drive. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Web tests 32-person group voice and video calls Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-17T09:30:13.365Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Web tests 32-person group voice and video calls Meta Description: WhatsApp Web is testing group voice and video calls for beta users, with 32-person support, call links, and screen sharing. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-web-group-voice-video-calls](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-web-group-voice-video-calls) WhatsApp Web is testing group voice and video calls in browser-based group chats for some beta testers, bringing 32-person calling to the web client. The feature extends WhatsApp Web’s earlier one-to-one calling support and closes a long-standing gap for people who manage chats from a desktop browser. There is no stable release date yet. ## WhatsApp Web’s group-call test reaches browser-based chats The new group-calling option sits inside **WhatsApp Web** group chats, not the mobile app. Eligible users will see a call button in the chat, then choose whether to start a voice or video call and select participants before connecting. That makes the feature a direct extension of the web experience rather than a separate desktop product. For now, the rollout is limited to some beta testers. WhatsApp has not said which countries, platforms, or account cohorts have access, or when the feature will reach a stable launch. Most users will not see the option yet, even though the browser test is already live. ## The 32-person cap, call links, and the split between voice and video WhatsApp Web group calls support up to 32 participants, matching the limit used in other WhatsApp calling surfaces. Call links are part of the setup, so users can invite people by URL instead of adding them one by one. A waiting room is also available, and those links expire after 30 days of inactivity. The feature also separates voice and video more clearly. Users can start either type of call from the group chat, but screen sharing is only available in group video calls. That gives the browser version the core tools needed for quick team check-ins, walkthroughs, or lightweight support calls without moving the conversation elsewhere. ## Encryption stays in place End-to-end encryption still covers **WhatsApp Web** group calls, so call content remains private to participants. That keeps the new browser feature aligned with the security model WhatsApp already uses for its calls on other surfaces. The update also builds on the earlier one-to-one calling support WhatsApp added to the web client. Group calling is the bigger step: it turns WhatsApp Web from a chat-and-single-call interface into something closer to a usable desktop coordination tool, while still staying in beta and short of a full rollout. ## Why browser-first users stand to benefit first The clearest upside is for people who already use WhatsApp Web as their main desktop interface. Linux users stand out here because they do not have an official WhatsApp desktop app, making the browser the default way to stay on the platform from a computer. For those users, group calling in the browser removes one more reason to switch to a phone or a separate app during coordination. It gives support teams, operators, and small groups a way to keep a call, chat, and participant selection inside WhatsApp Web, but the feature is still limited to beta testers, and the stable launch remains open. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Business AI launches in India for SMB support Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-09T12:06:52.610Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Business AI launches in India for SMB support Meta Description: WhatsApp has launched Business AI in India for eligible WhatsApp Business users, with 24/7 support, local languages, and UPI payments coming soon. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-business-ai-india-launch](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-business-ai-india-launch) WhatsApp has launched **Business AI** in India for eligible **WhatsApp Business** users, giving small businesses a way to automate customer support and sales conversations inside the app. The rollout is gradual and limited to eligible accounts, not every WhatsApp Business profile at once. Meta is also pointing to **UPI-based payments** inside WhatsApp chats as a coming addition, but that payment layer is not live in this launch. ## Business AI goes live for eligible WhatsApp Business accounts in India The feature is built for **WhatsApp Business**, not the consumer app, and it is aimed at the kind of repeat messaging many SMBs handle all day: routine support questions, lead capture, appointment booking, and product recommendations. For operators, the practical value is simple enough: the business can keep replying when staff are offline, while preserving a path for human takeover when a query needs personal attention. Meta has framed the launch around 24/7 availability, which makes the timing matter as much as the feature set. A business no longer has to wait for office hours to answer basic questions about products, pricing, discounts, delivery, or service. ## Inside the assistant: local languages and the path in the app The assistant supports native Indian languages, which gives it a clearer fit for businesses serving customers across multiple regional markets. WhatsApp says eligible users will find it inside the **WhatsApp Business** app under **Tools > Your Business AI**. That placement matters because it keeps the feature close to the existing business workflow rather than pushing owners into a separate dashboard or tool. Once enabled, the assistant is meant to sit alongside the rest of the WhatsApp Business setup, handling the first layer of incoming messages while the business decides when to step in. ## Businesses can shape the answers with their own material WhatsApp says businesses can tailor the assistant using catalogues, documents, profile information, and website content. In practice, that gives the tool a built-in knowledge base for answering product, pricing, discount, delivery, and service questions more accurately than a generic chatbot could. The business still keeps control of the conversation. When the assistant cannot handle a request, a human can take over. That makes the system an assistive layer for support teams rather than a replacement for them, which is a useful distinction for owners who want automation without losing oversight. ## UPI payments are coming, but they are not live yet The launch also points to **UPI-based payments** inside WhatsApp chats as a next step. For now, that should be treated as a separate addition, not part of the feature already rolling out to eligible businesses in India. That distinction is important for anyone evaluating the new Business AI setup. The current release is about automated messaging support and sales handling inside WhatsApp Business. Payments are still on the roadmap, which means businesses adopting the tool now should expect messaging automation first and transaction support later. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests View Once text messages on iPhone Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-07T03:12:05.789Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests View Once text messages on iPhone Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing View Once text messages on iPhone, extending the disappearing format beyond photos and videos. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-view-once-text-messages](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-view-once-text-messages) WhatsApp is extending its **View Once** feature to text messages on iPhone, adding a one-read option to a format that was previously tied to disappearing photos and videos. The update is still in testing or early rollout, so it is not yet clear how widely it is available. ## View Once reaches WhatsApp text on iPhone The key change is straightforward: View Once is no longer limited to media on iPhone. With the new format, a text message is meant to disappear after it is viewed, giving the sender a way to make a message temporary rather than keep it sitting in chat history. That keeps the feature inside WhatsApp’s existing View Once system, but shifts it from a media-only tool to one that can also apply to written messages. For iPhone users who already know the View Once label from photos and videos, the new text version follows the same basic privacy idea: one view, then it is gone. ## How the new text format fits into WhatsApp’s existing tools WhatsApp already uses View Once for disappearing media, and this iPhone update extends that same concept to text. The practical effect is different from a normal chat message, which stays in the conversation unless someone deletes it, and it is also separate from WhatsApp’s standard disappearing-message timers that remove chats after set periods. The available information ties the change specifically to iOS. That makes the iPhone rollout the clearest part of the story, while the broader platform picture remains unsettled. ## Rollout status and what is still unclear What is not confirmed yet is whether this is live for everyone, limited to a small test group, or moving out in stages. The update is being described as a testing or early rollout phase rather than a finished global release. It is also unclear whether Android users are getting the same text-message treatment at the same time, or whether the feature is limited to certain regions or account cohorts. The interface details are not fully settled in the available material either, including exactly how the sender enables the View Once text format and what restrictions apply before a recipient opens it. For now, the main takeaway is simple: WhatsApp is taking View Once beyond photos and videos on iPhone, but the wider release picture still needs to firm up. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp adds a Drafts filter to iPhone chat lists Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-05T03:14:10.128Z Meta Title: WhatsApp adds Drafts filter to iPhone chat lists Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out a cleaner iPhone chat-list layout with a Drafts category for unfinished messages. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-ios-drafts-filter](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-ios-drafts-filter) WhatsApp is rolling out a new chat-list layout on iPhone that adds a **Drafts** category and moves secondary lists into a separate menu inside the Chats tab. The update is reaching some users now and is expanding over the coming weeks, giving iPhone users a quicker way to find unfinished conversations. ## iPhone chat lists get a separate Drafts view The new interface changes how chat lists are organized inside WhatsApp’s Chats tab. Rather than keeping every list in the same visible row, WhatsApp is putting secondary lists into a separate menu and surfacing **Drafts** as its own category. For users, the main benefit is simple: unfinished messages are easier to spot. A Drafts view gives direct access to chats with unsent text, reducing the need to hunt through active conversations to find what still needs attention. The update keeps the most relevant lists visible in the main Chats tab while moving the rest into a separate menu. ## Rollout status on WhatsApp for iOS 26.21.74 The feature is not fully universal yet. It is available to some iPhone users and is rolling out more broadly over the coming weeks. WhatsApp for iOS 26.21.74 is the compatible version named with the change, and users on that build are among the first to see it. The feature is still arriving in stages, so not every iPhone has it yet. The scope of the change beyond iPhone is not confirmed in the material. Users who have the update can open the Chats tab and look for the new **Drafts** category there. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp adds Football Central 2026 before the World Cup Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-05T03:14:08.383Z Meta Title: WhatsApp adds Football Central 2026 before the World Cup Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out a Football Central 2026 hub ahead of the FIFA World Cup, with confirmed access on the latest iPhone update. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-fifa-world-cup-fan-effects](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-fifa-world-cup-fan-effects) WhatsApp is adding a **Football Central 2026** hub ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, giving football fans a dedicated place inside the app before kickoff. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Canada and Mexico, and the new hub is set up around that schedule. ## Football Central 2026 arrives before kickoff The new **Football Central 2026** feature sits in WhatsApp’s Updates tab and surfaces live football updates, news and match coverage in one place. The hub is available before the tournament starts. For users following the World Cup closely, it keeps football content closer to the messaging app they already use. ## iPhone users have the clearest access path The confirmed access point for Football Central 2026 is the latest WhatsApp for iOS update from the App Store. What remains unclear is whether the feature is also coming to Android or desktop, or whether rollout is limited by region and app version. iPhone users updating WhatsApp are the only group with a confirmed route into the new hub so far. ## A separate seasonal update includes calling effects and stickers A separate WhatsApp update has also added calling effects, animations and stickers for video calls in a New Year or holiday context. Those features are described as part of a festive update rather than the World Cup hub. Football Central 2026 is the World Cup-related addition, while the calling effects and stickers belong to a different update unless WhatsApp links them more directly later. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## Pixel phones get on-device scam detection, but WhatsApp support is still unclear Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-06-03T10:14:15.415Z Meta Title: Pixel phones get on-device scam detection Meta Description: Google has turned on on-device scam detection for Pixel phones, while WhatsApp support remains unconfirmed. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-on-device-scam-detection](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-on-device-scam-detection) Google has added AI-powered scam detection to Android in a move that brings call screening onto the device itself for Pixel users. The confirmed rollout covers scam calls on supported Pixel models and countries, while claims about WhatsApp message protection are not backed by Google’s announcement or support page. ## Pixel scam detection moves onto the device The new **Scam Detection** feature runs locally on Pixel phones, with Google saying it can flag potential scam calls as they happen. That keeps the analysis on the device rather than sending call audio or transcripts to Google’s servers. Google also says the feature is off by default and must be turned on by the user. It can be switched off in Settings or from the in-call menu for a specific call. The company frames the feature as part of its Android security work, not as a WhatsApp-specific launch. In practice, the confirmed behavior is tied to the Phone app and incoming calls. ## Which Pixel users can use it Availability is limited to Pixel devices and depends on both model and country. Google’s support page says Scam Detection works on Pixel 6 and later in the US, Pixel 9 and later in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom, and on the Pixel 9a in the US only. Google also notes that the feature is not fully accurate. Not every scam call will be detected, and scammers constantly change tactics. That is why the company advises users to keep using caution with unknown numbers even when the feature is enabled. For Pixel 9 and later devices, Scam Detection is powered by **Gemini Nano** on-device. Earlier Pixel models use Google’s on-device machine learning models instead. ## WhatsApp support remains the open question A separate claim has linked the protection to WhatsApp and other messaging apps, but that is not confirmed in Google’s direct materials here. The documented rollout covers calls, not WhatsApp messaging. It is still unclear whether any future WhatsApp-related capability would scan messages, look at calls placed inside the app, or apply more broadly to chat apps. Timing for that kind of expansion is also not confirmed. For now, the practical takeaway is narrow: Pixel users in supported markets can turn on on-device scam detection for calls, but WhatsApp coverage should be treated as unannounced until Google spells it out. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Is Testing a Logout Option That Keeps Chats Intact Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-30T01:33:58.076Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Is Testing a Logout Option That Keeps Chats Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a logout option that lets some beta users sign out without deleting chats or reinstalling the app. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-logout-without-data-loss](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-logout-without-data-loss) WhatsApp is testing a logout option that would let users step away from the app without deleting it or wiping their chat data. The feature is still in beta for some users, but the change is straightforward: signing out would no longer have to mean erasing everything and starting over later. ## A logout option that leaves chats in place The new logout flow is designed to let users sign out while keeping their chats, settings, and login details intact. Instead of forcing a full app removal or a reset-style exit, the feature keeps stored data intact when a user signs out. That makes the logout function closer to a temporary pause than a permanent exit. For people who only want to step away for a while, they can leave WhatsApp without losing their message history. ## Beta testing and rollout limits The logout option is only showing up for some beta testers right now. WhatsApp has not confirmed a wider release, and the rollout timing remains unclear. The feature is still in beta and not yet widely available. The feature’s exact placement in the app and the full set of controls around it are not yet clear, and it is still unknown which platforms or account types will be included if the test expands. ## How this changes the logout experience A sign-out option that preserves data removes one of the main frictions in stepping away from WhatsApp. Users would be able to log out without uninstalling the app or going through a full remove-and-restore cycle later. It gives users a cleaner way to pause WhatsApp use while keeping their chats and settings in place for when they want back in. For now, the change is limited to testing, with no data loss and no reinstall required. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests spoiler messages that hide text until tapped Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-30T01:33:56.198Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests spoiler messages for hidden text Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing spoiler messages that hide selected text until tapped, with rollout timing still unclear. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-spoiler-messages-privacy-feature](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-spoiler-messages-privacy-feature) 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. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Is Testing a Logout Button for Primary Phones Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-29T01:32:02.242Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Is Testing a Logout Button for Primary Phones Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a logout option for primary phones that lets users step away without uninstalling the app or losing data. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-logout-button-beta](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-logout-button-beta) WhatsApp is testing a logout option for primary phones, a change that would let users step away from an account without uninstalling the app or losing their chats and local data. The feature is still in beta, and it is not yet clear how widely it has rolled out. ## A logout path for primary WhatsApp accounts At present, users who want to “log out” of **WhatsApp** on a primary phone often end up uninstalling and reinstalling the app to get that effect. The beta feature changes that by adding a direct logout option instead of relying on the workaround. The practical value is straightforward: a user could pause access to a primary WhatsApp account without wiping the account’s existing data from the device. That makes the update more of an account-management fix than a broader redesign of the app. ## Temporary switching without losing chats or data The new flow is described as a temporary switch away from the primary account, not a permanent account removal. Existing data is meant to stay intact during the logout period, which is the main difference from uninstalling the app. For users who need a break from WhatsApp but do not want to reset their setup, that is the key benefit. It preserves the account state on the device and avoids the extra step of reinstalling everything later. ## Beta status and open rollout questions The logout option has been spotted in beta testing, but the exact build, platform coverage, and rollout timing remain unclear. It is not confirmed whether the feature is in Android beta, iOS beta, or both, and there is no public release date attached to it. The exact placement of the control inside WhatsApp is also not confirmed. For now, the important detail is narrower: WhatsApp is working on a proper logout path for primary phones, but availability is still limited to testing. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests 24-hour status posts for channels Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-27T01:37:03.014Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests 24-hour status posts for channels Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing Channel Status, a 24-hour post format for channel admins in iOS beta build 26.16.10.70. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-channel-status-temporary-posts](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-channel-status-temporary-posts) WhatsApp is testing a new **Channel Status** feature that would let channel admins publish temporary status-style updates inside their channels. The posts are expected to disappear after 24 hours, giving channels a short-lived format alongside the permanent broadcasts they already use. ## Channel Status adds 24-hour posts to WhatsApp channels The feature mirrors regular WhatsApp Status behavior rather than the standard channel update format. That means channel admins would be able to share announcements, media, or quick updates that expire after a day instead of staying visible in the channel feed. At present, channels rely on regular updates that remain available for much longer. Channel Status would add another option for posts that are meant to be timely and temporary, rather than pinned as long-term channel content. ## iOS beta build 26.16.10.70 shows the feature under development Channel Status was spotted in WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.16.10.70, released through TestFlight. The feature is still under development and is not available for beta testing yet. That leaves the rollout timing open. WhatsApp has not confirmed when the feature will reach testers, whether it will expand beyond iOS, or if it will behave the same way across platforms once it launches. ## Admin-only utility and the next rollout question The feature is aimed at channel admins, not ordinary followers. For operators running channels, it would create a faster way to publish short-lived updates without turning every message into a permanent channel post. The exact interface is still unclear, but the plan appears to be to let admins create a status update directly from the channel area. Until WhatsApp ships it more broadly, Channel Status remains a development-stage feature with no confirmed public release date. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp will stop working on Android 5.0 and 5.1 devices on Sept. 8 Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-27T01:37:01.410Z Meta Title: WhatsApp ends Android 5 support in September 2026 Meta Description: WhatsApp will stop working on Android 5.0 and 5.1 phones on Sept. 8, 2026, with Android 6.0 becoming the new minimum. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-android-50-51-support-ends](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-android-50-51-support-ends) WhatsApp will stop working on Android 5.0 and 5.1 phones on Sept. 8, 2026, and the app’s new minimum requirement will move to Android 6.0 or newer. The cutoff applies to both **WhatsApp Messenger** and **WhatsApp Business**, giving users on older phones time to back up chats and move to a supported device. ## September 8 cutoff for Android 5.0 and 5.1 On Sept. 8, 2026, WhatsApp will stop working on Android 5.0 and 5.1 devices, and Android 6.0 will become the minimum supported version. Users still on Android 5.0 or 5.1 will lose access unless they update to a newer phone or switch to a device that can run Android 6.0 or later. The cutoff covers both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business. ## What affected users should do now The main immediate step is to back up chats before support ends. For people still using an Android 5 phone, that backup can preserve message history before they move to a newer device. The practical options are limited. Users can upgrade to a phone that runs Android 6.0 or later, or they can move to a replacement device that meets the new minimum version. The warning period gives affected users time to make that switch before access is withdrawn. ## How broad the impact is still unclear What remains unclear is how many active users are still on Android 5.0 or 5.1. It is also not fully clear how widely in-app alerts have reached affected users. No regional exceptions or carve-outs are confirmed. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp anti-scam tools put Silence Unknown Callers in focus Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-26T14:57:10.009Z Meta Title: WhatsApp anti-scam tools put Silence Unknown Callers in focus Meta Description: WhatsApp is highlighting anti-scam tools like Silence Unknown Callers and Context Cards to curb suspicious calls and chats. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-anti-scam-safety-tools](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-anti-scam-safety-tools) WhatsApp is highlighting a set of anti-scam safety tools built around call privacy, account protection, and extra context for unfamiliar contacts. The clearest setting in the group is **Silence Unknown Callers**, which mutes calls from numbers not saved in a user’s contacts, while **Context Cards** are meant to give more detail about suspicious or unfamiliar interactions. ## Call silencing and context cues sit at the center of the update **Silence Unknown Callers** is the most concrete call-privacy control in the package. When it is turned on, calls from numbers outside a user’s contact list are silenced instead of ringing through normally. They still show up in the Calls tab and notification area, so users can check them later without taking the interruption live. **Context Cards** take a different approach. In individual and group chats, they add details that help users judge whether an account looks familiar or suspicious. That can include whether the sender is saved as a contact, whether there are shared groups, whether the number comes from another country, and whether the account is new. From there, users can decide whether to reply, save, block, or report. ## A layered defense against fake identities and pressure tactics WhatsApp is positioning the tools as layered protection rather than a single fix. The broader package is meant to help users secure accounts, spot unusual activity, and control who can reach them. The scam patterns the company is trying to blunt are familiar ones: fake identities, bogus companies, and urgent messages designed to create panic and push people into revealing private information. In that context, the anti-scam set covers both calls and chats, rather than treating spam as only a calling problem. **Two-Step Verification** is part of that account-security layer. It adds a six-digit PIN that is required when someone tries to reset or verify a WhatsApp account, giving users another barrier if scammers get hold of a verification code. ## Availability and rollout remain the key reader question What is not fully clear is whether this is a live rollout, a broader safety push, or a general explainer around tools WhatsApp already offers. Platform availability, regional coverage, and account-type differences are also not confirmed in the available material. One practical point is clearer: **Silence Unknown Callers** already exists on Android, where it can be switched on in call privacy settings. That confirms the setting is not new in itself, but not whether WhatsApp is expanding it or tying it to a wider anti-scam package. Users who want to try the protection now can check call privacy settings on Android; otherwise, the rollout status and platform coverage remain unconfirmed. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## Gujarat signs Meta MoU to bring 20 citizen services to WhatsApp Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-26T13:18:18.354Z Meta Title: Gujarat to Put 20 Services on WhatsApp Meta Description: Gujarat has signed an MoU with Meta to bring 20 citizen services to WhatsApp, including certificates, records and grievance help. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/gujarat-government-whatsapp-citizen-services](https://sheetwa.com/news/gujarat-government-whatsapp-citizen-services) Gujarat has signed a memorandum of understanding with Meta to move 20 citizen services onto WhatsApp, with the rollout still ahead. The initial list centers on everyday government tasks: grievance redressal assistance, income, caste and EWS certificates, ration card updates, revenue records and official affidavits. ## The 20 services entering WhatsApp The agreement covers nearly 20 citizen-facing services from five major departments. The services are meant to move onto WhatsApp and cover practical government tasks such as grievance redressal assistance, income, caste and EWS certificates, ration card updates, revenue records and official affidavits. That list is practical rather than experimental. It focuses on document requests, record updates and help with common service applications, work that citizens already do through government channels, but often with more steps and more travel than a chat interface requires. Officials have described the move as a way to make service access more comfortable for people who already use WhatsApp widely on mobile phones. The channel is familiar, and the intended use case is straightforward: ask for a service, get routed through the system, and complete a routine government task in chat. ## How Gujarat is positioning the rollout The initiative was unveiled in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. State officials are linking it to Gujarat’s existing digital governance setup, including One Day Governance, Jan Seva Kendras and village-level service delivery mechanisms. Officials are positioning the WhatsApp rollout alongside Gujarat’s existing digital governance channels, not as a replacement for them. Officials have also tied the move to the broader Sugam Digital Gujarat initiative, which has already brought more than 20 government services online. The new WhatsApp access is being presented as the next step in that setup. ## Rollout status and what is still open The services are coming soon, not already live. The exact launch date has not been confirmed. It is also not clear whether all 20 services will switch on at once or roll out in phases, or whether the rollout will begin statewide or in a limited area first. For now, Gujarat has committed to putting a defined set of everyday citizen services inside WhatsApp, with certificates, records and grievance help at the center of the first wave. The timing and deployment details are still open. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp beta adds a way to review Meta AI chats Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-26T13:18:15.057Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Beta Organizes Meta AI Chats in One View Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a Meta AI chat organization feature in Android beta 2.26.9.4, with privacy questions still open. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-meta-ai-document-sharing](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-meta-ai-document-sharing) WhatsApp is testing a Meta AI chat organization feature in Android beta 2.26.9.4, giving some beta users a single place to review conversations with **Meta AI**. The update keeps each new prompt in its own thread, but surfaces those exchanges together inside one interface. Availability is still limited, and it is not yet clear how widely the test has been distributed. ## Meta AI chats get a single review view in Android beta The clearest change is on the chat-management side. In the beta build, users can look back at their **Meta AI** conversations without jumping between separate entries. Each prompt still starts a separate conversation thread, but the app brings those threads into one view so the history is easier to scan. That setup is meant to make it simpler to track what has been shared with Meta AI. Earlier exchanges are easier to find, and the AI chats are less fragmented across the app. ## How the new layout handles context and message history Messages sent to **Meta AI** are used to keep context inside a thread and shape later responses in that same conversation. The thread structure matters here. One prompt does not automatically carry over into a separate chat, but the messages in an active thread still help the assistant respond to the next question. The feature makes that history visible in one place, which is the main change users would notice if the test reaches them more broadly. For anyone trying to review what was asked, shared, or answered, that is the main functional change. ## The privacy question around AI chats in WhatsApp The update also revives a familiar privacy question: what happens when AI conversations are easier to organize inside a messaging app that is built around private communication. WhatsApp’s broader AI stack includes **Private Processing**, which Meta describes as an optional way to use AI for message processing without Meta or WhatsApp accessing the content. That background does not answer every question around the new interface. The exact controls attached to the Meta AI chat organization feature are not described, and it is still unclear whether the test is available to all beta users or only a limited group. Broader rollout timing is also unconfirmed. For now, the feature remains in limited beta, with no confirmed wider rollout. The open privacy question is whether organizing Meta AI chats inside WhatsApp exposes more of the conversation history in the app. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp and Apple keep warning users about spyware attacks Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-24T01:35:51.408Z Meta Title: WhatsApp and Apple keep warning users about spyware Meta Description: Apple and WhatsApp are warning users about spyware attacks that can compromise phones silently. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-anti-spyware-notifications](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-anti-spyware-notifications) Apple and WhatsApp are warning users when phones may have been targeted by spyware, attacks that can compromise a device without the owner noticing. The alerts sit in the world of high-end surveillance tooling, where the goal is silent access rather than obvious disruption. ## Apple and WhatsApp keep issuing spyware alerts The warning is not a new consumer feature. It is part of an ongoing push to notify users when a device may have been exposed to spyware or hacking activity. The threats at the center of those alerts are designed to stay hidden. That means users may not see obvious signs of compromise, even when a phone has already been targeted. The alert tells users a device may have been exposed and needs attention. ## The spyware playbook behind the alerts The category here includes both government-grade spyware and commercial spyware. Those tools are built for surveillance, and they can work without the user realizing the device has been compromised. That warning has also landed in a wider context. Spyware vendors and state-backed operators continue to push into more markets, including the US, where companies such as Paragon Solutions and NSO Group have drawn attention for their efforts to expand access. Their reach is growing in business and government circles. ## Who is most exposed, and what remains unclear The people most often named in these warnings are journalists, business leaders, and human rights workers. Those groups tend to sit higher on the list of targets because of the access they have, the accounts they manage, or the information they carry. What is still unclear is the exact scope of the latest alerts. The available material does not confirm how many users were affected, which countries were included, or whether the warnings came directly from WhatsApp or through Apple’s security-notification process. The technical details behind any specific incident are also not fully established. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## Texas sues WhatsApp over privacy and encryption claims Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-24T01:35:49.782Z Meta Title: Texas sues WhatsApp over privacy claims Meta Description: Texas attorney general Ken Paxton sued Meta and WhatsApp over claims the app misled users about encryption and privacy. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-privacy-lawsuit-in-texas](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-privacy-lawsuit-in-texas) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms and WhatsApp, accusing the company of misleading Texans about how private its messaging app really is. The case centers on WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption claims and the promise that message contents are accessible only to the sender and recipient. ## Paxton’s complaint targets WhatsApp’s encryption messaging The Texas filing says WhatsApp overstated the strength and scope of its privacy protections and presented encrypted messages as if they were fully private from the platform itself. Paxton’s office is bringing the case under Texas consumer protection law over that alleged false impression about access to user communications. WhatsApp has long been marketed as a secure messaging service built around end-to-end encryption. In practical terms, that claim tells users their message contents are not available to the platform. Texas says those assurances misled consumers by presenting WhatsApp messages as encrypted in a way that kept them out of reach. ## The privacy assurances at the center of the case The complaint goes after the consumer-facing promise behind the app’s privacy messaging. WhatsApp’s security language and its positioning as a private communications tool shaped the expectation that a private chat stays private once it is sent. According to the Texas filing, that expectation was shaped by WhatsApp’s security language and its public positioning as a private communications tool. The lawsuit argues that the company’s claims about encryption and privacy gave Texans a misleading sense that their conversations were fully shielded from the platform. ## Meta’s response and what remains unclear Meta disputes the allegations, according to the secondary summary. It maintains that WhatsApp cannot access encrypted communications. Several details are still not visible in the available filing preview, including the full legal claims, the remedies Texas is seeking, and the court venue. The whistleblower reference appears only in the secondary summary and is not independently confirmed. The case is still at the allegation stage, and the core dispute is whether WhatsApp’s encryption claims overstated the privacy users were actually promised. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests usernames that can hide your phone number Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-24T01:35:46.280Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests usernames to hide phone numbers Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing usernames with privacy options that could limit phone number exposure and reduce spam. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-usernames-hide-phone-number](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-usernames-hide-phone-number) WhatsApp is testing a username system that could let people use a name instead of exposing their phone number. The planned setup centers on three privacy choices: **Username**, **Phone number**, and **Username with PIN**. In username mode, new contacts would see the username rather than the phone number. Existing contacts who already have the number would still be able to see it. The PIN option adds another layer of control. In that mode, only people who know the four-digit PIN could connect with the user, while existing contacts with the number would still be able to reach them. That makes the feature more than a simple profile label change; it also creates a way to decide who can start a conversation. ## Android beta is where the test is showing up The feature has been seen in **WhatsApp Android beta** version 2.24.18.2. It is not available outside beta yet, and WhatsApp has not set a public launch date. ## What changes if usernames go live If WhatsApp pushes the feature out more widely, users could share a username instead of a phone number in some situations. That would be useful for first contact with a customer, seller, group member, or new acquaintance. The main open question is whether the same controls will work across Android, iPhone, and WhatsApp Web, and whether all account types will get them at launch. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## Just Eat Takeaway pilots WhatsApp ordering in Spain and the Netherlands Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-23T01:37:58.177Z Meta Title: Just Eat pilots WhatsApp ordering in Europe Meta Description: Just Eat Takeaway is piloting WhatsApp ordering in Spain and the Netherlands, with AI recommendations and app-based checkout. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/just-eat-takeaway-whatsapp-ordering](https://sheetwa.com/news/just-eat-takeaway-whatsapp-ordering) Just Eat Takeaway.com is adding WhatsApp as a new ordering channel in Europe, starting with a pilot in Spain and the Netherlands. The flow lets customers browse food and retail options inside a WhatsApp chat, get tailored suggestions from conversational AI, and then complete checkout in the Just Eat app. ## WhatsApp ordering pilot lands in Spain and the Netherlands The new option is being rolled out over the coming months, with Spain and the Netherlands named as the first markets in the pilot. Just Eat says the experience is built around conversational ordering rather than a static menu browse: customers can send a request such as a meal idea or food type and receive suggestions back in chat. The company is describing the feature as a food and retail ordering option, widening the channel beyond standard restaurant delivery. How broad that retail element will be, and which categories it will cover, is not yet clear. ## Chat prompts, AI recommendations, then checkout in the app The WhatsApp flow is designed to start with simple prompts. A customer might message something like “pizza for four” or “healthy lunch nearby,” then get recommendations tailored to that request. From there, the handoff moves to the Just Eat app for checkout. WhatsApp handles discovery and recommendation, but payment happens in the Just Eat app. Customers still leave WhatsApp to finish the purchase. ## Retail scope and rollout timing still need clarity Just Eat has not spelled out how widely the pilot will be available during the rollout window. The exact launch date is also not clear, beyond the plan to expand over the coming months. The company has also left some open questions around the broader structure of the WhatsApp experience. It is not yet clear whether the ordering flow sits inside a dedicated business account, a chatbot, or another WhatsApp interface. Availability outside Spain and the Netherlands is still unconfirmed. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp starts limiting free business broadcasts with message credits Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-23T01:37:56.106Z Meta Title: WhatsApp rolls out paid limits for business broadcasts Meta Description: WhatsApp is capping free business broadcast messages and rolling out message credits, with limits that vary by region. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-broadcast-list-paid-limits](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-broadcast-list-paid-limits) WhatsApp is rolling out a message-credits system for business broadcasts, capping how many free messages businesses can send before they need to buy more. The change applies to WhatsApp Business broadcasts, not personal chats, and the monthly limit varies by region. ## Business broadcasts move onto a credit system The new system adds a usage cap to free broadcast sending in the business app. Once a business reaches its monthly allowance, additional broadcasts require extra credits. That keeps the change squarely on business broadcast messages. Normal one-to-one messaging is not part of the update. Businesses will need to plan broadcasts around that monthly allowance, since higher-volume campaigns can run into the cap before the end of the month. ## Roughly 35 sends a month, with limits that change by country One cited limit is around 35 broadcast messages per month. That figure is not presented as a global fixed rule. The cap varies by region, and availability is not yet universal. The rollout is reaching more users in different countries. WhatsApp Business for iOS is one place where the feature is already visible to some users with the latest updates. A separate detail tied to the rollout is that WhatsApp may offer 250 free broadcast messages per month for the first six months in some cases. That allowance can be used across one or multiple broadcasts. The exact regional setup remains unclear. ## KYC-linked higher limits are being discussed separately Alongside the paid credit system, there is also a broadcast limit upgrade path tied to KYC verification. In one example, the ceiling moves from 250 users per day to 1,000 unique users per day. That is a different limit story from the paid credits rollout. The available information does not make clear whether the two mechanisms are part of one unified system or separate ways of expanding broadcast capacity. The iOS rollout is still limited to some users, and WhatsApp has not shown a single global limit for business broadcasts. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests tabbed navigation for group info screen on Android Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-23T01:37:53.848Z Meta Title: WhatsApp beta adds tabbed group info navigation Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a tabbed group info screen on Android beta, with Members, Media and Settings shortcuts. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-beta-group-info-navigation](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-beta-group-info-navigation) WhatsApp is rolling out a new navigation system for the group chat info screen in Android beta, giving users tabs for **Members**, **Media** and **Settings**. Tapping a tab jumps straight to the matching section instead of forcing a manual scroll through the page. ## Tabbed shortcuts replace scrolling in group info The change reorganizes the group info page into three main tabs: **Members**, **Media** and **Settings**. Each one acts as a shortcut to a section that was already part of the screen, but was previously buried farther down the page. Before this update, opening group info meant scrolling until the right section came into view. The new layout cuts out that extra step, which makes it quicker to check who is in the group, review shared media, or open settings from the same screen. ## Android beta 2.26.20.7 is getting the change The navigation system is tied to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.20.7. It is available only to some beta testers right now, with a broader rollout planned over the coming weeks. That means the feature may not show up for every tester at once, even on the same beta build. WhatsApp is still expanding access gradually rather than pushing it to the entire beta base in one go. ## A small but useful cleanup for group management This is not a full redesign of group management. The core flow stays the same; WhatsApp is simply making the group info screen easier to move through. For people who spend time inside large or active groups, the update trims friction from a few common tasks. Checking members, opening media, or adjusting settings should take fewer steps once the tabbed navigation is available. It is still unclear when the change will reach the stable app, and WhatsApp has not said whether the same layout is coming to iPhone or other platforms. For now, the update is limited to a small slice of Android beta users, with more accounts set to get it in the weeks ahead. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp rolls out redesigned iPhone media attachment sheet Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-23T01:37:52.422Z Meta Title: WhatsApp rolls out redesigned iPhone media attachment sheet Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned iOS attachment sheet that surfaces recent photos and videos inside the chat. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-media-attachment-redesign](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-media-attachment-redesign) WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned media attachment sheet for iPhone users, giving some people a faster way to share recent photos and videos without leaving the chat. The update is tied to WhatsApp for iOS version 26.19.75, and it is showing up gradually rather than on every account at once. ## Recent photos now surface inside the attachment sheet The new layout puts recent media directly inside the chat attachment flow. Instead of opening the full gallery first, users can browse recent photos and videos from the sheet itself, then send them from the same screen. That keeps the conversation visible while the media picker is open. For anyone sharing a picture or clip in a busy chat or group thread, that removes a step and preserves the context of the message they are responding to. If users keep scrolling, the view can expand to show the full gallery. The redesign focuses on the recents-first flow, not on replacing the entire photo library experience. ## Version 26.19.75 is where the new layout starts showing up The attachment sheet redesign is appearing in WhatsApp for iOS 26.19.75 from the App Store. It is not yet universal, and users who update may still see the older layout for now. The interface can also be opened by pressing and holding the plus button in the input bar, which makes the revised media picker easier to reach from inside a chat. ## A faster share flow, not a full gallery replacement The practical change is simple: recent-media sharing takes fewer steps. Users can select from the latest photos and videos immediately, without moving out into the full gallery app first. The redesign does not change every media-sharing path in WhatsApp. The full gallery remains available after scrolling through the recents strip, and the broader picker experience still exists behind the attachment sheet. For iPhone users, the payoff is a quicker way to send recent media from inside the chat, without opening the full gallery first. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests Status at the top of the Chats tab Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-23T01:37:50.691Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests Status at top of Chats tab Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing Status updates at the top of the Chats tab, with the change still in development on iOS and Android beta builds. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-in-chats-tab](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-in-chats-tab) WhatsApp is testing a change that would surface **Status** updates at the top of the **Chats** tab, putting the 24-hour posts into the main chat list instead of leaving them only in the Updates area. The feature is still under development, is not widely available, and does not work in the current beta references. ## Status cards surface in the Chats tab The change would bring **Status** into one of WhatsApp’s most visible spaces: the screen where users already open individual conversations and scan their recent messages. In the current setup, **Status** sits in the Updates tab, though people can also reach it from the Chats tab by tapping profile photos with the green ring. The beta version being tested points to a dedicated row or preview area above the chat list, giving **Status** a more central position without changing the basic format itself. The feature is still being refined, so the final layout is not locked in. ## A more central place for 24-hour posts Status posts would still disappear after 24 hours. The difference is where they show up and how quickly users can see them. The current test points to a preview-style display that surfaces recent updates without forcing people to leave the Chats tab. That keeps the same ephemeral format users already know, while making it easier to notice new posts as soon as they open the app. ## Beta builds on iOS and Android point to the same direction Recent beta references point to the feature on both iOS and Android, suggesting WhatsApp is preparing the same general change across platforms. But the timing is not confirmed, and availability may not move on the same schedule everywhere. What remains unclear is how the final interface will behave. It is not yet confirmed whether the Chats tab placement will replace the existing Updates tab view or sit alongside it, and the number of Status items shown in the new layout is still unknown. For now, the signal is limited to testing builds and a UI change that could make **Status** much harder to miss. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## EPFO’s WhatsApp help for PF users is listed, but live status is unclear Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-22T02:04:38.464Z Meta Title: EPFO’s WhatsApp help for PF users is listed, but live status is unclear Meta Description: EPFO’s WhatsApp help option appears in regional helpline listings, but current coverage and live status are not fully clear. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/epfo-whatsapp-service-for-pf-updates](https://sheetwa.com/news/epfo-whatsapp-service-for-pf-updates) EPFO’s WhatsApp support for PF-related queries shows up in public helpline listings, but the current live status, exact coverage, and regional availability are not fully pinned down. It is listed alongside toll-free numbers, missed-call balance checks, SMS service, email, and help-center links. ## WhatsApp sits alongside EPFO’s PF support channels The **WhatsApp** option is described as a helpline-cum-grievance redressal channel for PF users. It is part of EPFO’s subscriber support channels, not a separate consumer product. That wider stack includes the toll-free helpline for PF, pension, and EDLI schemes, the UAN query line, missed-call balance checks, SMS-based services, email addresses for employees and employers, and links to EPFO’s help center, office locator, FAQs, and feedback form. One dated listing says EPFO launched the WhatsApp grievance mechanism during the COVID-19 period as part of its service-delivery push. The listing places the channel’s launch in that period, when EPFO was adding more subscriber support options. ## Regional office numbers, not one national WhatsApp line The listings tie WhatsApp support to regional-office helpline numbers. That means the contact path is organized around the office where a PF account is maintained, rather than a single nationwide WhatsApp number for every user. One directory-style list says the WhatsApp help was functional across EPFO’s regional offices and gave office-wise numbers for Mumbai, Thane, Delhi and Jammu, and other zones. Another support directory also presents WhatsApp numbers in a zone-by-zone format, alongside the standard EPFO contact details. For readers, the practical point is simple: PF, pension, EDLI, and UAN queries may need the regional office contact linked to the account. The available material does not show one universal WhatsApp number that covers all offices in the same way. ## What is still unclear about the service today The biggest open question is current availability. The strongest dated reference to the WhatsApp grievance mechanism is from 2020, and the material here does not confirm whether the service still operates everywhere in the same form. The exact operating hours are also not consistently stated across the listings. The same is true for query scope: the pages point to general PF help, guidance, and grievance redressal, but they do not clearly settle whether the channel works as live chat, a complaint intake line, or a callback-style support path. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp is building a Contacts hub for online contacts on Android Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-22T01:38:06.269Z Meta Title: WhatsApp is building a Contacts hub for online contacts on Android Meta Description: WhatsApp is developing an Android Contacts hub that shows which contacts are online at a glance. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-online-status-contact-indicator](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-online-status-contact-indicator) WhatsApp is developing an Android **Contacts hub** that would show which of your contacts are online, giving Android users a faster way to spot active chats. The feature is still under development and is not yet available for beta testing. ## Android’s new online-contacts hub The planned feature centers on a list, or hub, of online contacts rather than a manual check inside each individual chat. In its current form, it is aimed at Android and is described as a **Contacts hub** that surfaces who is online in one place. At the moment, users who want to check whether someone is available generally have to open that person’s chat. The new hub would reduce that step by putting online status into a single view. ## Faster timing for active chats The practical use case is straightforward: if you can see who is currently online, you can send a message when that person is more likely to see it and respond. That makes the feature about timing, not about a new messaging mode or a broader redesign of WhatsApp’s chat system. It is a visibility change built around active contacts and quicker conversation starts. ## Rollout status and open questions WhatsApp has not put the feature into beta testing yet, so release timing remains unclear. It is also not confirmed whether the Contacts hub name will stick through launch or whether the final interface will change. Availability beyond Android is also unknown for now. For the moment, the clearest detail is the core function: a place in WhatsApp where users can quickly see which contacts are online. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp is testing sticker reactions for messages Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-21T01:50:39.119Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests sticker reactions for messages Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing sticker reactions for messages, with a separate Status update also adding stickers and celebratory emoji animations. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-sticker-reactions](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-sticker-reactions) WhatsApp is testing a new way to react to messages: stickers instead of only standard emoji reactions. The update is still under development, and the rollout path is not yet settled. ## Sticker reactions enter WhatsApp testing On the messaging side, the test replaces the familiar emoji-only reaction bar with sticker support. In practical terms, that means a user would react to a message with a sticker, not just a thumbs-up, heart, or other standard emoji. Stickers have long been part of the app’s chat culture, and the new test applies that behavior directly to message reactions. A screenshot tied to the test shows a long-press workflow that opens the most-used emoji bar, with stickers available to customize that set. That still leaves the core idea straightforward: instead of limiting reactions to basic emoji, WhatsApp is trying out a sticker-based response for chats. ## Status gets a separate reaction-layer update A separate update is also moving around **Status**, where WhatsApp is working on status stickers and celebratory emoji animations. In that setup, users can place expressive stickers on status updates and trigger festive confetti-style effects. That affects Status posts, while the message-reaction test affects chats. The feature adds another way to respond or decorate content inside the app, but it does not alter how normal chats work. For now, the Status material should be treated as adjacent to the message-reaction test, not automatically the same feature. The two changes are both reaction-focused, but the available details do not confirm that they are one unified update. ## Rollout scope and access are still unsettled WhatsApp has not broadly released the sticker reaction test. The feature is still in beta development, and availability to users remains unclear. Platform scope is also not fully pinned down. One version of the test is tied to Android beta builds, while the broader access picture, including whether the same behavior is arriving on iOS, or on both platforms, is still uncertain. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Adds Contact Grid to Forward Picker on iOS Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-21T01:50:39.119Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Adds Contact Grid to Forward Picker on iOS Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out a contact grid in the forward picker on iPhone, replacing the vertical frequent contacts list for some users. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-contact-grid-forward-picker](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-contact-grid-forward-picker) WhatsApp is rolling out a new forward picker layout on iPhone that replaces the vertical **Frequently contacted** list with a compact contact grid for some users. The update changes the forwarding screen, where chats and groups had previously appeared in a long list. ## Forward picker switches from list to 2-row contact grid In the new layout, the **Frequently contacted** area no longer runs down the screen in a vertical format. Instead, it appears as a grid arranged in two rows, showing six contacts at a time. The change is visible in the forwarding interface itself, where users choose chats or groups to send a message onward. Rather than stacking contacts one after another, WhatsApp now uses the extra width of the screen to show more people in the same space. That means the forwarding screen feels less cramped, with more frequent contacts visible at once and less scrolling through the same small set of chats and groups. ## iPhone rollout reaches some users on WhatsApp for iOS 26.19.76 The new grid is available to some iOS users after installing **WhatsApp for iOS 26.19.76**. Some users may also see it after a previous update, including the TestFlight beta build. WhatsApp has not made the layout available to everyone yet. The rollout is still partial, and availability may differ by account or region. ## A more compact forwarding screen for frequent chats The main practical effect is density: the grid uses screen space more efficiently than the old vertical list and surfaces a fuller set of frequent contacts at once. For people who forward messages often, that means less scrolling through the same small set of chats and groups. The forwarding screen itself is unchanged apart from the new contact grid for frequent chats. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Tests Close Friends Lists for Status Updates Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-20T02:36:18.668Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Tests Close Friends Lists for Status Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a Close Friends list for Status posts, with a distinct ring for selected contacts. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-close-friends-status-list](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-close-friends-status-list) WhatsApp is testing a **Close Friends** feature for Status updates that would let users share posts with a selected group of contacts instead of changing privacy settings each time. The feature is still in development, and availability is not confirmed. ## A Close Friends list for WhatsApp Status The new option would give WhatsApp users a dedicated audience list for Status sharing. Instead of opening privacy controls for each post, users could send a Status update to people they have already marked as close friends. That setup would let users share with a smaller group without reopening privacy settings each time they post. ## Distinct ring and editable audience list WhatsApp is also testing a visible cue for that audience split. Contacts on the **Close Friends** list would see a different-colored ring around the user’s profile picture when they view that person’s Status-related content. The list itself appears to be editable, which would let users add or remove contacts over time. The feature would give users tighter control over who sees Status updates, without adding extra posting steps. ## Rollout remains in testing For now, the feature is still in development and testing. WhatsApp has not confirmed a rollout date, and it is not clear whether the option will arrive on Android, iPhone, WhatsApp Web, or all three at once. The exact placement of the Close Friends controls is also not confirmed. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Web Login Glitch Sends Some Users to Facebook During Passkey Scans Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-20T02:36:17.124Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Web Login Glitch Sends Users to Facebook Meta Description: Some WhatsApp Web users are seeing login failures tied to passkey scans, with redirects to Facebook instead of sign-in. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-web-redirected-to-facebook-login](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-web-redirected-to-facebook-login) Some WhatsApp Web users ran into a login problem on Tuesday that sent them to Facebook instead of finishing sign-in. The issue was tied to passkey scans, and the visible symptom was a failed or confusing login path on WhatsApp Web. ## WhatsApp Web sign-ins divert into Facebook The problem surfaced during **WhatsApp Web** authentication, where users trying to sign in with a passkey saw the process break down. In some cases, the login flow redirected to Facebook instead of completing the WhatsApp Web session. Once a user is already signed in, the available information does not point to a broader messaging outage. The trouble is in the sign-in path itself. ## Passkey scans and the broken login path The visible failure is connected to **passkey**\-based login behavior on WhatsApp Web. Instead of a smooth authentication step, some users ended up in a confusing redirect loop or a failed attempt to get into their account. It is not clear whether the behavior came from a bug, a rollout problem, or something tied to specific accounts. The broader cause has not been established, so passkey scans are not completing normally for at least some WhatsApp Web users. ## Scope and status remain unclear It is not yet clear how widespread the issue is. It is also unclear whether the redirect affects all browsers, all devices, or only a subset of WhatsApp Web users. The status of the problem is still unclear. With no confirmed root cause and no confirmed fix to rely on, the practical takeaway is narrow: the issue appears to affect WhatsApp Web login itself, not the core messaging experience after sign-in succeeds. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp’s New iPhone Share Sheet Puts Recent Photos and Videos Up Front Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-20T02:36:16.482Z Meta Title: WhatsApp’s New iPhone Share Sheet Puts Recent Photos and Videos Up Front Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned iPhone media sheet with recent photos and videos easier to reach inside a chat. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-redesigned-media-share-sheet-on-ios](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-redesigned-media-share-sheet-on-ios) WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned media attachment sheet on iOS, giving iPhone users a faster way to pick recent photos and videos without covering the chat. The updated layout keeps the conversation visible while moving the most-used media shortcuts closer to the point of sharing. ## A tighter media picker on iPhone On the current flow, sharing a photo or video in WhatsApp starts with the plus button, which opens the app’s custom share sheet and then sends users into the full photo library. That view takes up most of the screen. The new iPhone interface trims that down. Recent photos and videos are surfaced more directly inside the share sheet, so users can get to commonly used media with fewer taps while still seeing the message thread behind it. ## Recents now sits inside the share sheet The redesigned layout adds a **recents** section under the share menu icons. It uses a compact 4x4 grid, arranged like a horizontal strip that can be swiped through. If the item a user wants is not in that strip, WhatsApp expands the view and opens the full media gallery. The same picker can also be brought up by pressing and holding the plus button in the input bar. ## Rollout scope on iOS remains uneven The change is tied to WhatsApp for iOS version 26.19.75 and is visible for some users on that release. It is not yet clear that every iPhone account has the new sheet. For now, the practical change is straightforward: WhatsApp is making media sharing less intrusive on iPhone, with a smaller picker that keeps the chat in view while recent files stay close at hand. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests automatic business chat separation on Android Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-18T03:12:42.936Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests separate section for business chats Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing an Android beta feature that moves business chats into a separate section to cut inbox clutter. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-business-messages-separate-section](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-business-messages-separate-section) WhatsApp is testing a cleaner way to handle business conversations on Android, with business chats moving into a separate section instead of sitting alongside personal threads. The feature has surfaced in Android beta version 2.26.15.9 and gives users some control over which business chats stay in the main list. ## Android beta shows a separate lane for business chats The change is straightforward on the surface: WhatsApp is working on an automatic split between business chats and personal conversations. In the current test build, business messages are placed in a dedicated section rather than mixed into the main chat feed. That setup would help keep the inbox easier to scan for people who receive frequent promotions, service notices, or other business updates. A separate section would keep those threads grouped together instead of forcing users to sort through them manually. ## How the automatic split would work in practice The separation would not happen instantly. Business chats would move into the dedicated section automatically after a short period of time. That gives users a window before the conversation shifts out of the main list. WhatsApp is also testing a way to keep selected business chats in the main chat list. That detail matters for threads users still want to see regularly, such as active customer support chats or ongoing order updates. The result would be a more selective inbox, with personal conversations staying front and center and business threads moving out of the way unless users choose otherwise. The broader aim is simple: help people find the conversations they care about more quickly. Instead of scrolling past promotional or automated messages, users would have a clearer path to the chats they use most often. ## Rollout status remains unclear The feature is still under development, so it is not available to all users yet. WhatsApp has not confirmed a public rollout, and it is not clear whether the change will stay limited to Android beta testing or expand more widely later. It is also not confirmed whether the same behavior will appear on iOS. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp adds AI writing help and photo tools inside chats Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-18T02:59:50.903Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Adds Private AI Writing Help and Photo Tools Inside Chats Meta Description: WhatsApp is adding private AI writing help and Meta AI photo tools for drafting messages and editing images inside chats. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-ai-writing-and-photo-tools](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-ai-writing-and-photo-tools) WhatsApp is adding two new AI workflows directly into chats: **Writing Help** for message drafts and a broader set of Meta AI image tools for creating and editing photos. Writing Help lets users rewrite a draft in different tones, and WhatsApp says it uses Private Processing to keep the original message and AI suggestions private. ## Writing Help adds tone controls to message drafts Writing Help appears after a user starts drafting a message in a 1:1 or group chat and taps a new pencil icon. From there, WhatsApp offers rewrite options in styles including professional, funny, and supportive. Users can pick one of those suggestions or keep editing the draft themselves. WhatsApp says the feature is an optional add-on rather than a default behavior, and Private Processing is designed so Meta or WhatsApp do not read the message or the rewritten suggestions. Writing Help is rolling out in English, starting with the United States and several other countries. ## Meta AI image tools move into the chat flow WhatsApp is also showing Meta AI image features inside the messaging experience. In the product demo, the tools include image creation, photo editing, removing people or objects, generating stickers from photos, enhancing status updates, and understanding what is in an image. The demo also shows users asking Meta AI to describe a photo or translate text visible in an image, putting the feature closer to a utility tool for reading and repurposing visual content inside chats. ## Open questions on rollout and access WhatsApp has not made the rollout picture fully clear for the photo tools. The materials shown make the features visible, but they do not confirm whether the image tools are landing in the same markets as Writing Help or on the same timeline. It is also unclear how broadly the image functions are being exposed. Some of the tools may live directly inside chats, while others may sit behind separate Meta AI entry points. For now, users can tap the pencil icon to rewrite drafts, while the image tools remain a demoed part of the wider WhatsApp experience and their full rollout details are still unknown. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Starts Letting Some Unsaved Contacts See Status Updates Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-18T02:59:50.903Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Expands Status Sharing Beyond Saved Contacts Meta Description: Some WhatsApp users can now share Status updates with recent contacts even if the number isn’t saved. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-visible-to-unsaved-contacts](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-visible-to-unsaved-contacts) WhatsApp is rolling out a change that lets some people see **Status** updates even if the sender has not saved their number. The feature reaches recent contacts, people a user has recently messaged or called, and it is showing up only in select regions for now. ## Status posts reaching recent contacts Under the new behavior, a Status post can be visible to someone outside a sender’s contact list if there has been recent interaction between the two accounts. That means a person does not need to be saved in the phonebook to receive the update. A recent chat or call can now be enough to move a person into the group that can see the update, even when they were never added as a saved contact. That changes the practical boundaries of Status sharing for people who assumed unsaved contacts could not see their posts at all. ## Limited rollout across Android, iOS, and Web The feature is not being turned on everywhere at once. It is rolling out in select regions, and WhatsApp lists the latest versions of its app on Android, iOS, and Web as compatible. That compatibility note does not mean every account has the feature yet. The rollout remains staged, so users should not assume the behavior is universal just because they are on a current app version. For now, the clearest takeaway is that the update is live only for some users in some markets. People seeing the change on their accounts may be among the first in those regions to get access. ## Privacy questions around unsaved-number visibility The update has already triggered privacy questions from users who noticed Status updates appearing from unsaved numbers. Some have asked whether the behavior reflects a change in settings or a glitch, especially when the visibility seems to cross the line they expected between saved and unsaved contacts. What users are seeing is Status visibility for some recently interacted-with contacts that were never saved; what remains unclear is whether that is a settings change, a rollout feature, or behavior that will still shift as the rollout continues. For now, the update sits in that middle ground. Some users are already seeing unsaved contacts with access to Status posts, but the full scope of the rollout and whether the behavior is final has not been fully spelled out. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Starts Rolling Out Channel Replies for Admins Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-18T02:59:50.903Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Beta Adds Channel Replies for Admins Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out channel replies for admins in beta, linking responses to the original update on iOS and Android. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-beta-channel-admin-replies](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-beta-channel-admin-replies) WhatsApp is rolling out a **channel replies** feature that lets admins respond directly to their own updates while keeping the response linked to the original post. The change is live for some beta testers now and is expanding gradually, with iOS and Android beta builds both tied to the rollout. ## Channel replies land for admins The new option gives channel admins a way to add follow-up context without deleting an update and posting it again. Replies stay attached to the original channel post, so followers can open the thread and see the response alongside the message it refers to. If an admin needs to correct a detail, add a clarification, or expand on a short post, the reply stays with the original update. Followers see the reply in the same thread as the original post instead of as a separate message elsewhere in the channel. ## Beta rollout on iOS and Android On iOS, WhatsApp beta version 26.13.10.70 is listed as the compatible build for the feature. The rollout is currently limited to some beta testers and is expected to reach more users over the coming weeks. Android beta users are seeing the same **channel replies** feature as well. A WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.19.9 post points to the update, and some users can pick it up through earlier builds. Availability is not uniform across the beta program. Some testers can access the feature already, while others will have to wait for it to appear in a later update. ## What the feature changes for channel admins For channel operators, the main benefit is simple: one post can now carry its own follow-up. That gives admins a cleaner way to add extra detail after publishing instead of removing the original message and rebuilding it from scratch. Followers can read the reply alongside the original update in the same channel thread. WhatsApp has not said when the feature will reach all beta users, and there is no stable release date attached to it yet. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests an 'After Reading' disappearing-messages timer on Android Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-16T06:34:12.736Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests After Reading disappearing timer Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing an After Reading timer on Android that makes messages disappear after they’re opened. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-after-reading-disappearing-messages](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-after-reading-disappearing-messages) WhatsApp is testing a new disappearing-messages option called **After Reading** that would delete chats after the recipient opens them. The setting changes the app’s current model, where disappearing messages expire on a fixed countdown after they are sent. The feature is still in development on Android and has not reached beta testers in the clearest preview. ## An open-based disappearing timer The **After Reading** timer adds a read-based expiry to WhatsApp’s disappearing messages. Instead of starting the clock when a message is sent, the message would disappear after it is opened. That gives users a more direct privacy control over how long a chat stays visible in the thread. WhatsApp already lets people turn on disappearing messages for chats, but the current setup relies on preset time windows rather than the moment someone reads the message. The new option would sit beside that system and give users another way to decide when a message should vanish. ## Android is the first platform tied to the test The current development work is tied to Android. In the clearest preview, the feature is still under development and is not yet available to beta testers. That makes rollout timing uncertain. It is also not clear whether WhatsApp will bring the same option to iPhone at the same time, or how the final interface will place the new timer inside the app. ## How the new timer sits beside existing disappearing messages The practical difference is simple: one timer starts when a message is sent, the other starts when it is read. That lets WhatsApp offer tighter control for people who want messages to disappear only after they have been opened. The feature does not replace disappearing messages altogether. It expands the timing choices available to users who already rely on the privacy setting for shorter-lived chats, while keeping the existing fixed-expiry options in place. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Business gets a new icon in iOS beta Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-16T02:05:29.953Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Business gets a new icon in iOS beta Meta Description: WhatsApp Business is refreshing its iPhone app icon in TestFlight beta, matching the newer WhatsApp Messenger look. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-business-icon-redesign](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-business-icon-redesign) WhatsApp Business on iPhone is getting a redesigned app icon, and the change is already visible to beta testers in the latest TestFlight build. The update brings the business app closer to the newer visual treatment used by WhatsApp Messenger. ## A new **Business** icon in the iOS beta build The change appears in WhatsApp Business beta for iOS 26.19.10.72. For users in the TestFlight program, the updated icon shows up after installing the latest build. This is a visual adjustment only. It does not add a new in-app tool, messaging option, or workflow change. Instead, it updates the app’s appearance on the home screen and in the app switcher, where the icon is one of the most visible parts of the product. ## The icon now matches WhatsApp Messenger’s newer visual style The refreshed Business icon follows the same newer look that WhatsApp has already applied to Messenger on iOS. The two icons now sit closer together visually, while still keeping the Business app’s distinct identity. The Business version keeps its role and branding, but the visual treatment is now in step with the updated Messenger design rather than the older icon style. A separate earlier preview also pointed to a redesigned splash screen for WhatsApp Business. The icon change is the clearest piece of that refresh so far. ## Rollout is limited to TestFlight for now The redesigned icon is currently tied to beta access on iOS. WhatsApp has not confirmed when, or whether, it will reach all iPhone users. It is also unclear whether the same design will move to Android or stay limited to iOS. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Status Visibility Gets a Stranger-Focused Clarification Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-16T02:05:29.115Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Status Visibility Gets a Stranger-Focused Look Meta Description: WhatsApp status visibility is under fresh scrutiny as users ask whether people outside their contacts can see updates. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-visibility-test](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-visibility-test) WhatsApp status visibility is drawing new attention around a basic privacy question: can people outside your contacts see your updates? The focus is on whether unsaved contacts can view a status, and on what WhatsApp is doing to clarify that behavior. ## Status visibility for unsaved contacts The issue centers on status updates reaching people who are not in a user’s address book. One current framing of the change describes WhatsApp as adding a status clarification for strangers, with an explanatory screen shown when a status comes from a number that is not saved in contacts. That explanation ties visibility to a recent interaction, such as a chat or call, along with the other user’s privacy settings. In other words, the question is not just whether a number is saved; it also turns on whether WhatsApp treats the interaction and privacy setup as enough to surface the status at all. ## How the audience controls still apply For users, the practical issue is still audience control. WhatsApp status settings already revolve around who can view an update, and that remains the core lens for this change. What is still not fully clear is the exact rule for when an unsaved contact can see a status. The available material does not establish whether this is a new product rule, a clearer explanation of existing status settings, or a limited test for some accounts. ## Rollout scope and platform reach Availability is also uncertain. It is not confirmed whether the visibility behavior is live for all users, limited to a test group, or still being introduced in stages. Platform coverage remains unclear as well. The material does not establish whether the same status behavior applies across Android, iPhone, web, or other WhatsApp surfaces. For now, WhatsApp status privacy is being clarified around non-contacts, but the rollout status and final scope are still open. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests quick reactions for Status updates Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-14T10:41:22.675Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests quick Status reactions Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing quick reactions for Status updates on Android, with the action appearing on the Status screen URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-quick-reactions](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-quick-reactions) WhatsApp is testing quick reactions for **Status** updates, giving users a faster way to respond without opening a fuller reply flow. The feature is under development on Android and is expected to appear directly on the Status screen, where people can acknowledge a post with a lightweight reaction. ## Quick reactions move onto the Status screen The new interaction is meant to make Status replies simpler. Instead of shifting into a conversation thread, a user would react from the Status view itself. That puts a quick-reaction control on the Status screen rather than in a message thread. The emphasis is on a lightweight response for posts that only need a brief acknowledgment. ## Android testing and rollout status The feature is being tested on Android and is not broadly available yet. WhatsApp has not set a public release date, and wider rollout remains unclear. For now, the quick reaction option sits in testing for a future version of the app. ## How this changes Status engagement For users, the main change is practical: Status updates get a quicker response path. A person can react without composing a message, which makes it easier to show interest, approval, or appreciation in a few taps. The important detail is the placement and behavior inside WhatsApp Status itself, where the reaction is designed to stay lightweight and separate from a longer reply. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp adds Incognito Chat for Meta AI Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-14T10:41:22.675Z Meta Title: WhatsApp adds Incognito Chat for Meta AI Meta Description: WhatsApp is rolling out Incognito Chat for Meta AI, a private mode that keeps questions and answers out of Meta\u2019s view URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-incognito-chat-for-meta-ai](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-incognito-chat-for-meta-ai) WhatsApp is rolling out an **Incognito Chat** mode for **Meta AI** that lets users ask questions without Meta being able to access the prompts or responses. The feature uses WhatsApp’s **Private Processing** technology, and the chat is designed to disappear by default when it is closed. Rollout details are still unclear. ## Incognito Chat adds a private lane for Meta AI on WhatsApp The new mode sits inside WhatsApp’s AI chat experience rather than the core messaging inbox. It is built for conversations with **Meta AI**, giving users a separate way to interact with the assistant without those exchanges being handled in the normal saved-chat flow. The setup keeps the AI interaction private from Meta itself. In practice, that means that the questions and answers in **Incognito Chat** are not available to Meta in the same way a standard AI exchange would be. WhatsApp’s **Private Processing** system underpins the feature, extending the app’s existing privacy approach into AI use. ## How the private AI mode changes the chat experience For users, the practical change is straightforward: they can open a private AI chat inside WhatsApp, ask Meta AI for help, and close the session without leaving the conversation behind in the usual way. The mode is described as an AI-specific privacy layer, not a new general-purpose chat product. It applies to **Meta AI** conversations only, not the main WhatsApp inbox or the app’s broader messaging structure. The result is a more controlled space for asking questions, with the conversation disappearing by default when the chat ends. ## Rollout scope and open availability questions What remains less clear is how widely the feature is available. Global rollout and platform-by-platform availability on Android and iPhone are still unclear. It is also not confirmed whether the disappearance behavior can be changed by user controls. For now, WhatsApp has added a private AI chat mode to its **Meta AI** experience, but the exact rollout window and reach are still unclear. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Tests Automatic Welcome Messages for Android Group Chats Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-13T08:11:46.944Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Tests Automatic Welcome Messages for Group Chats Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing an automatic welcome message for group chats on Android. Rollout timing and customization remain unclear. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-group-welcome-message-test](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-group-welcome-message-test) WhatsApp is testing an automatic welcome message for group chats, a beta-stage change on Android that would greet new members as soon as they join. Rollout timing and availability remain unclear. ## Automatic greetings at the moment someone joins The feature would show a short welcome text as soon as a person enters a group, before they start scrolling through older messages. New members could see the greeting right away, while group admins would have a built-in way to welcome them automatically. ## Admin control and message scope The feature is built around group admins and group-chat management. What remains open is whether admins will be able to customize the welcome text or whether WhatsApp will use a fixed system message. It is also not yet clear whether the greeting will be fully automatic or whether it will use an admin-configurable template. For now, the feature stays focused on group conversations. It does not change other parts of WhatsApp. ## Beta rollout on Android, with availability still open The update is in beta testing on Android, and the exact version, rollout scope and wider release timing are still unclear. It is also not confirmed whether the feature will stay limited to Android or eventually move to iPhone. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp beta tests a channel storage cleanup tool Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-13T08:11:46.944Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests a channel storage cleanup tool Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a storage cleanup tool for channels in Android beta, with related selective-delete controls also in development URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-channel-storage-cleanup](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-channel-storage-cleanup) WhatsApp is testing a storage cleanup feature for channels in Android beta, giving users a more direct way to manage channel storage. The feature shows up in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.19.4, but the exact scope and rollout timing are still unclear. ## Channel storage gets a cleanup tool in Android beta In WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.19.4, WhatsApp is working on a cleanup option that lets users act on stored channel content instead of leaving it untouched or clearing it wholesale. That gives users a way to remove older channel content without wiping the whole channel at once, which is useful when channels fill up with messages and media over time. ## Selective deletion replaces all-or-nothing cleanup The broader cleanup behavior WhatsApp is developing points to a more selective approach. Users can choose specific items to remove instead of wiping an entire chat at once. The items discussed include messages and media such as photos, videos, audio, GIFs, stickers, documents and voice notes. One version of the feature also shows how much storage space will be freed before deletion is confirmed. It gives users a way to clear space while keeping the rest of a conversation or channel intact, rather than forcing a full purge. ## Android beta first, iPhone controls still look separate For now, the clearest channel mention is tied to Android beta. The channel cleanup feature is identified in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.19.4, while a separate iPhone-focused cleanup tool is also being developed. On iPhone, coverage points to an “advanced chat clearing” tool with selective deletion for starred messages or media files and an estimate of how much storage will be recovered. That suggests similar goals, but not necessarily the same feature or the same rollout path. WhatsApp has not confirmed public availability, and the channel tool’s beta status, timing and item support remain unclear. For now, the update is best read as a work-in-progress focused on giving users finer control over storage inside WhatsApp. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests paid Plus tier with themes, extra pins and premium stickers Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-13T08:11:46.944Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests paid Plus tier with customization features Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a paid Plus tier with themes, extra chat pins and premium stickers for a limited group of users URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-plus-subscription-tier](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-plus-subscription-tier) WhatsApp is testing a paid Plus tier that packages customization tools and a few workflow extras for a limited group of users. The bundle centers on visual changes rather than core messaging, with themes, alternate app icons, premium or animated stickers and extra pinned chats among the features tied to the subscription. ## Paid Plus tier surfaces with customization-first features The clearest draw of the tier is personalization. Users seeing the option get **theme** choices, extra app icons and sticker-related extras alongside expanded chat management. The pinned chat limit is part of that package, with the paid tier adding more room to keep conversations at the top of the app. The tier lets users pin more chats, switch between themes, change app icons and use premium or animated stickers. ## Limited rollout on iOS and narrow access iOS is specifically in the current rollout window, and the tier is only appearing for a small number of users. That keeps the launch well short of a full public release. The exact scope is still unclear. It is not confirmed that the same rollout is landing on Android in the same way, and the feature bundle may not match perfectly across platforms if WhatsApp expands it further. ## Price and feature list still need confirmation A monthly price has been mentioned, but it should be treated cautiously until it is better corroborated. The branding is also not fully settled across all surfaces, so the Plus label may not be used consistently everywhere the tier appears. The monthly fee, Android availability and final feature set are still unsettled as WhatsApp continues testing the tier. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp Web is getting chat themes in a future update Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-11T11:47:50.045Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Web Chat Themes Are in Development Meta Description: WhatsApp Web is in line for chat themes, with colorful bubbles, wallpapers, and preset color options in a future update URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-web-chat-themes](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-web-chat-themes) WhatsApp is working on **chat themes** for the web client, adding a future personalization option that would bring colorful chat bubbles, new wallpapers and more control over how conversations look in the browser. The feature is still in development and is not yet available for beta testing. ## WhatsApp Web’s chat themes are in development The planned update would let users change the look of chats directly on WhatsApp Web. Instead of a plain default interface, conversations could show themed backgrounds with matching bubble colors. The web version is being built around the same basic idea already shown on mobile: a more customized chat view that users can tune to their taste. WhatsApp has said the themes are only visible to the person applying them, so the changes stay private on each account. ## Preset themes, color choices, and wallpaper options On mobile, WhatsApp’s **chat themes** include preset combinations that change both the background and the bubbles. Users can also mix colors rather than sticking to one fixed look. WhatsApp has also added 30 new wallpaper options in the mobile rollout, along with the ability to apply one theme across all chats or set different themes for individual conversations. Channels can use themes as well. For WhatsApp Web, one early estimate points to up to 49 color options, but that figure has not been confirmed by WhatsApp itself. The exact mix of colors, wallpapers and theme controls on the browser version is still not settled. ## Availability and scope remain open WhatsApp Web chat themes are not yet available for beta testing, and the rollout timing is still unclear. That leaves a few open questions for the browser version: whether it will match the mobile feature set exactly, how many color choices it will include, and when users will start seeing it in the web client. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests paid Plus tier for iPhone Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-10T01:41:29.135Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests paid Plus tier for iPhone Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a paid Plus tier on iOS, with premium customization features rolling out to a limited number of users URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-ios-premium-subscription](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-ios-premium-subscription) WhatsApp is testing a paid subscription tier for a limited number of iPhone users, with premium features centered on customization. The plan is still in a narrow rollout, and the final name, full feature set and wider availability remain unsettled. ## Paid WhatsApp Plus tier reaches a limited iPhone test group The new plan is being called **WhatsApp Plus** or an **Exclusive Features** tier. For now, it is available only to a small group of iOS users rather than the broader WhatsApp audience, and it is still in testing rather than a full launch. ## Customization features sit at the center of the new tier The clearest value inside the new subscription is customization. WhatsApp is tying the paid plan to premium or exclusive capabilities, including options that change how the app looks or behaves, but the full bundle has not been fully confirmed. ## Open questions on pricing, name and wider availability Pricing has not been confirmed, the subscription name may still change, and it is unclear how soon the tier will reach more iPhone users. Android timing is not confirmed either. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp rolls out ads in Status and promoted Channels Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-10T01:41:29.135Z Meta Title: WhatsApp Adds Status Ads and Promoted Channels Meta Description: WhatsApp is adding ads in Status and promoted Channels, with setup handled through Meta Ads Manager URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-ads-rollout](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-ads-rollout) WhatsApp is adding ads in **Status** and promoted **Channels**, bringing sponsored content into the app’s Updates tab. The new placements are built to help businesses reach new customers and let people discover channels more easily, while ad setup runs through Meta Ads Manager. # **WhatsApp rolls out ads in Status and promoted Channels** The new ad surfaces sit inside the Updates tab, where users already check Status posts and browse Channels. Promoted Channels serve a similar discovery role, boosting visibility in the channel directory so people can more easily follow brands, organizations and creators they may want to hear from. The placements appear only in the Updates area, not in personal chats or calls, keeping the sponsored content separate from one-to-one messaging. ## How advertisers set up the new placements Advertisers create WhatsApp Status ads in Meta Ads Manager. The setup is tied to traffic, awareness and engagement objectives, giving advertisers a way to use the placement for both reach and conversation goals. Some campaigns get a recommended setup experience, while manual options remain available. That means the new inventory is not a separate tool inside WhatsApp. It sits inside Meta’s existing ad system, where businesses can build campaigns and send people from an ad straight into a WhatsApp chat. ## Rollout scope and what is still unclear The placements are not equally clear in every market or account type yet. Meta says the WhatsApp Status feature is being introduced gradually, and availability may not be live for everyone at once. What is still not spelled out is the exact reach of the rollout, along with pricing, audience controls and format limits for the new placements. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## Instagram DMs lose end-to-end encryption as WhatsApp becomes the privacy fallback Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-10T01:41:29.135Z Meta Title: Instagram Ends DM Encryption, Pushing Private Chats Toward WhatsApp Meta Description: Instagram DMs lose end-to-end encryption on May 8, 2026, with WhatsApp framed as the private-chat fallback. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/instagram-dm-encryption-migration-to-whatsapp](https://sheetwa.com/news/instagram-dm-encryption-migration-to-whatsapp) Instagram is ending end-to-end encryption in direct messages on May 8, 2026, reversing a privacy feature Instagram users have had since 2023. The change means Instagram DMs will no longer have the same private-chat protection they did before, and the story points users toward WhatsApp as the place to take more sensitive conversations. It is not fully clear whether that shift is an official migration instruction or just the suggested alternative. ## Instagram DMs lose encrypted chat protection End-to-end encryption on Instagram direct messages ends on May 8, 2026, after being available on the platform since 2023. Once the change takes effect, Instagram messages will no longer have encrypted-chat protection, and users will need to save any media or message threads they want to keep before the cutoff. ## The abuse-detection reason behind the rollback Meta is ending encryption so it can detect abuse-related material, including CSAM and grooming, more easily. With encryption removed, Instagram can scan messages more easily when needed to flag harmful content. ## WhatsApp is being cast as the private-chat alternative One headline on the change says private chats should move to WhatsApp. The exact guidance is unclear: it is not confirmed whether Meta has formally instructed users to migrate their conversations there, or whether that is simply the way the change is being presented. WhatsApp itself is not changing in this update. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp patches flaw used in zero-click attacks Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-09T02:32:13.112Z Meta Title: WhatsApp patches flaw used in zero-click attacks Meta Description: WhatsApp has patched CVE-2025-55177 after the flaw was used in zero-click attacks tied to an Apple vulnerability. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-security-vulnerability-patch](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-security-vulnerability-patch) WhatsApp has patched a security flaw that was used in zero-click attacks tied to a separate Apple vulnerability, and the company has notified affected users individually. The issue, tracked as CVE-2025-55177, was used against specific users rather than the wider WhatsApp user base. ## WhatsApp closes the hole used in zero-click attacks The vulnerability involved incomplete authorization of linked device synchronization messages. In practical terms, it could let an unrelated user trigger processing of content from an arbitrary URL on another device. WhatsApp said the weakness was part of an attack chain that combined its own flaw with an Apple operating-system bug. The fix closes that route through WhatsApp. ## How the flaw worked and who was hit The attack did not require the victim to click anything, which is why it falls into the zero-click category. WhatsApp notified affected users one by one after identifying the targeting. The company has not confirmed how many accounts were reached. Available details point to specific targets, not a broad user-facing breach. ## Open questions on scope and affected devices What remains unclear is whether the attacks were limited to iPhone, Mac, or both. The available material also does not spell out exactly which device or operating-system versions are covered by the patch. WhatsApp has closed the flaw used in the attack chain, but the device scope of the fix is still not fully specified. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp is testing a Liquid Glass redesign for iPhone chats Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-09T02:32:13.112Z Meta Title: WhatsApp is testing a Liquid Glass redesign for iPhone chats Meta Description: WhatsApp is testing a translucent Liquid Glass-style interface for its iPhone app, centered on the chat screen and bottom tab bar. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-liquid-glass-ui](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-liquid-glass-ui) WhatsApp is testing a translucent Liquid Glass-style interface for its iPhone app, with the change showing up on the chat screen and bottom tab bar. The update is still in beta, so most users cannot get it yet, and WhatsApp has not confirmed a wider rollout. ## Liquid Glass styling reaches WhatsApp’s iPhone chat view The redesign brings a glass-like finish to parts of the chat interface, matching Apple’s iOS 26 visual language. The most visible changes are in the chat screen itself and the bottom tab bar, which take on a more translucent look instead of the flatter styling users are used to. The update also touches chat controls, including the bar used in conversations and the navigation elements at the bottom of the app. On iPhone, that gives the interface a lighter, layered appearance that stands out more clearly against the content behind it. ## Beta status and rollout scope stay limited For now, the feature remains in beta and is not rolling out broadly across the iPhone app. A wider release is expected in a future update, but the timing has not been confirmed. ## Open questions on reach and compatibility What is still unclear is how far the redesign will go beyond the chat screen and bottom navigation. The current change centers on those areas, but it is not confirmed whether WhatsApp plans to extend the Liquid Glass treatment across more of the app. Availability is also uncertain across beta groups. It is not clear which testers can access the redesign right now, and there is no firm detail on how the change will behave across different iPhone software versions. It is not yet clear which beta testers can see the redesign or whether WhatsApp will expand it beyond the chat screen and bottom tab bar. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp may bring Status updates into the Chats tab Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-09T02:32:13.112Z Meta Title: WhatsApp may bring Status updates into the Chats tab Meta Description: WhatsApp is working on a redesign that would place Status updates inside the Chats tab rather than keeping them separate. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-redesign-in-chats](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-redesign-in-chats) WhatsApp is working on a Chats tab redesign that would move **Status** updates into the main chat area. The change is not confirmed as a public launch, and the rollout timing remains unclear. ## Status moves into the Chats tab The update centers on where **Status** appears inside WhatsApp, with Status content moving into the chats area as part of a redesigned interface. ## How the new layout changes day-to-day use For people using WhatsApp every day, the clearest change would be visibility. Status would be easier to find from the main chat view, and the Chats screen would carry more of the app’s visible content in one place. The main tab would bring conversations and Status updates together on the same screen, instead of sending users to a separate section of the app. ## Rollout status and open questions What remains unclear is how far along the redesign is. It is not confirmed whether this is limited to testing, whether it is heading for a wider release, or whether it is still only being planned. Availability across devices and app versions is also not established. The exact on-screen layout has not been settled publicly, so it is not clear how WhatsApp will present Status inside the Chats tab once the change arrives. For now, the update points to a visible interface shift inside WhatsApp rather than a new feature category, with the main question left open being when, and for whom, it will show up. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp sets Android 6 as the new minimum for support Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-09T02:32:13.112Z Meta Title: WhatsApp sets Android 6 as the new minimum for support Meta Description: WhatsApp will stop supporting Android versions older than Android 6. Phones running Android 6 or newer will remain supported on the latest app version. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-android-app-support-cutoff](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-android-app-support-cutoff) WhatsApp will stop supporting Android versions older than Android 6 on September 8, 2026, setting a clear operating-system floor for people who want to keep using the app on Android phones. Devices running Android 6 or newer will remain supported. ## Android 6 becomes the support floor The cutoff takes effect on September 8, 2026, when WhatsApp will no longer support Android versions below Android 6. Phones already on Android 6 or anything newer will stay supported, provided they are on the latest supported version of the app. The change is a compatibility cutoff tied to the operating system, not a broader shutdown of WhatsApp service on Android. For users, the practical distinction is simple: the app keeps working on Android 6 and above, while older Android versions fall outside the supported range. ## Which phones are affected The affected devices are older Android phones still running versions below Android 6. Those users will be the ones most directly exposed to the cutoff once the date arrives. The support change is version-specific, not account-specific. A WhatsApp account itself is not the issue here; the determining factor is the Android version on the phone. If a device is on Android 6 or newer, it remains in the supported group as long as the app is kept on a compatible release. People with newer Android builds should not see the same support problem, even though the app’s minimum system requirement is moving up. ## What remains unclear The exact models affected first are not specified beyond the Android version cutoff. Different phones can stay on older software for different reasons, but the available material does not identify a model-by-model impact list. Also unclear is what WhatsApp will show affected users inside the app, or whether it will use a warning, prompt, or other transition message before support ends. No additional platform-specific changes are documented in the available material. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp tests floating chat bubbles on Android Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-09T02:32:13.112Z Meta Title: WhatsApp tests floating chat bubbles on Android Meta Description: 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. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-floating-chat-bubbles](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-floating-chat-bubbles) WhatsApp is testing a new Android interface that replaces the app name in the top bar with the WhatsApp logo and adds floating chat bubbles that let users reply without leaving the app they are already using. The update is still limited to testing, and it is not clear when, or whether, it will reach a wider group of users. ## Logo-only top bar and floating reply bubbles In the tested build, the familiar text label at the top of WhatsApp disappears and the logo takes its place. The top bar now shows the WhatsApp logo instead of the app name. The other visible change is the floating chat bubble setup. Instead of forcing users to jump fully into WhatsApp to answer a message, the bubbles let a conversation stay on screen while the reply is handled alongside whatever else is open. Users can reply while staying in the app they are already using. ## Android test status and rollout limits This is an Android test, not a full launch. Availability is still unclear, and WhatsApp has not confirmed a broader rollout. The scope is also limited to the Android side of the app. Nothing in the tested version suggests a universal WhatsApp redesign across platforms, and the visible changes are confined to the top bar and the reply shortcut now under testing. ## How this changes the day-to-day chat flow For users who are already multitasking, the practical benefit is simple: messages can be answered faster while staying in the current app. The bubbles handle the reply shortcut, while the top-bar redesign changes the first thing people see when they open WhatsApp. For now, the update is a cleaner Android header with the app name replaced by the logo, plus floating chat bubbles meant to make replies less disruptive. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp is ending support for older Android phones in September 2026 Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-09T02:32:13.112Z Meta Title: WhatsApp is ending support for older Android phones in September 2026 Meta Description: WhatsApp will stop working on Android devices running versions older than Android 6 in September 2026. URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-ends-support-for-old-android](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-ends-support-for-old-android) WhatsApp will stop working on Android devices running versions older than Android 6 in September 2026, giving owners of older phones a limited window to upgrade or switch devices before they lose access to the app. ## September 2026 cutoff for Android 6-and-below devices The support change affects phones still running Android 5.0 or 5.1, along with any other Android version below Android 6. It is a WhatsApp support cutoff, not a broader Android policy change, and it targets older smartphones rather than current Android devices. The practical result is straightforward: once the cutoff arrives, devices below Android 6 will no longer be able to run WhatsApp. ## Older-phone users face an upgrade deadline For people still using legacy Android phones, the change is not just about missing future updates. Access to WhatsApp itself is at stake. Users on affected devices will need to upgrade their operating system if their phone still supports it, or move to a newer device to keep using the messaging app. The scale could still be significant. The cutoff is expected to touch millions of older smartphones, though the exact number of affected devices will vary by market and handset age. ## Device list and rollout details still need confirmation What remains less clear is which specific models will be affected. No full model-by-model list has been provided, so users should check the Android version on their own phone rather than rely on a brand name alone. The exact day in September 2026 is also unclear from the available details. For now, the key point is the month: WhatsApp’s support floor is moving to Android 6, and devices below that level are on notice. Any language about exceptions or a temporary grace period should be treated cautiously until WhatsApp sets out the rollout more precisely. For anyone still on an older Android phone, the safe move is to check the software version now and plan for an upgrade before support ends. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp teases status widget in Android beta 2.26.18.5 Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-09T02:32:13.112Z Meta Title: WhatsApp teases status widget in Android beta 2.26.18.5 Meta Description: 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 URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-widget-beta-android-226185](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-status-widget-beta-android-226185) WhatsApp’s latest Android beta, version 2.26.18.5, points to a new widget built around status updates and the people who shared them. The feature is still under development, and it is not available to beta testers yet. ## Android beta 2.26.18.5 surfaces a status-sharing widget The build, released through the Google Play Beta Program, does not add a visible new feature for testers right now. Instead, it exposes work on a widget meant to surface status updates in a more direct way. The key detail is simple: the widget is designed to show who shared status updates. That puts status content closer to the home screen experience, though WhatsApp has not made the widget available in the beta itself. ## No user-facing rollout in this build yet For people already on the beta channel, 2.26.18.5 does not change daily use. There is nothing new to tap or test in the build, and the widget remains off limits to beta testers. ## What remains unclear about the widget WhatsApp has not shown how the widget will look or where it will sit in the interface. It is also unclear whether the feature will have a specific Android version cutoff, be limited to certain devices, or roll out to only part of the user base at launch. Release timing has not been confirmed, and it is not yet clear whether the widget will stay on Android or eventually arrive on other platforms too. WhatsApp is preparing the status widget for a future release, not shipping it yet. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp adds dual-account support to iPhone and expands AI features Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-09T02:32:13.112Z Meta Title: WhatsApp adds dual-account support to iPhone and expands AI features Meta Description: The latest WhatsApp update brings dual-account support to iPhone, plus Meta AI tools for photo editing, drafting replies, and suggesting emojis in chats URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-dual-ios-accounts-and-ai-writing](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-dual-ios-accounts-and-ai-writing) WhatsApp now lets iPhone users run two accounts on a single device, adding a long-requested option that Android users already had. The same update also brings Meta AI tools for photo editing and message drafting, along with personalized emoji suggestions while chatting. ## Two WhatsApp accounts on one iPhone The dual-account feature gives iPhone users a way to separate personal and work conversations without carrying a second phone. WhatsApp has already offered the option on Android, and iPhone now gets the same setup. The feature is designed for people who juggle more than one number or account on the same device. Users can see which account is active from the profile picture shown in the app’s bottom tab, which helps avoid confusion when switching between chats. ## Meta AI steps into photo editing and drafting The iPhone update is not just about account management. WhatsApp is also adding **Meta AI**\-powered tools inside chats, including photo editing features that can remove unwanted objects, change backgrounds, or apply different styles before an image is sent. WhatsApp is also adding **AI Writing Help**, which can suggest draft responses based on the conversation. Another user-facing addition in the update is personalized emoji recommendations, which can suggest emojis while users are chatting with a contact. ## Rollout details are still unclear What is not yet fully clear is how widely the iPhone dual-account feature is available. It is not clear whether the rollout is broad or staged. For iPhone users, the immediate change is simple: two accounts can now live on one device, with Meta AI features layered into everyday chats. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp adds prepaid mobile recharges in India Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-07T11:28:14.982Z Meta Title: WhatsApp adds prepaid mobile recharges in India Meta Description: India users can now recharge prepaid mobile numbers inside WhatsApp, with support for Jio, Airtel and Vi rolling out in phases URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-mobile-recharges-in-india](https://sheetwa.com/news/whatsapp-mobile-recharges-in-india) WhatsApp is rolling out prepaid mobile recharges in India, letting users complete top-ups without leaving the app. The feature is live in phases on Android and iOS, and the current rollout covers prepaid customers of Jio, Airtel and Vi. ## Prepaid recharges move into WhatsApp Users in India can start a prepaid mobile recharge from WhatsApp’s **Payments** section, choose from the available plans and finish the transaction in the app. The new option adds a rupee icon on the home screen for access to payments. Access is limited to some users in India for now. ## Jio, Airtel and Vi are in the first wave The current launch covers prepaid subscribers of Jio, Airtel and Vi. Jio has published terms for a WhatsApp Pay Recharge Program, confirming its participation in the launch. It is not yet clear whether operators beyond Jio, Airtel and Vi are included. ## PayU handles the checkout layer WhatsApp has tied the recharge feature to PayU, which handles the payment side of the flow. The setup keeps users inside WhatsApp rather than routing them to a separate app at checkout. Users can select a plan, pay in-app and get a recharge confirmation without switching services. Access still depends on whether the phased rollout has reached a specific account. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. --- ## WhatsApp enters Meta’s latest legal fight over addiction and privacy Author: Samarth Agrawal Published: 2026-05-07T11:28:14.982Z Meta Title: WhatsApp enters Meta's latest legal fight over addiction and privacy Meta Description: WhatsApp sits inside two separate Meta legal disputes, one over private messages in California and another over social media addiction URL: [https://sheetwa.com/news/meta-whatsapp-mental-health-lawsuit](https://sheetwa.com/news/meta-whatsapp-mental-health-lawsuit) WhatsApp is back in the legal spotlight through two different Meta disputes: a California class action that questions whether private messages stayed private, and a separate social media addiction verdict that found Meta and Google liable over claims their platforms were designed to be addictive. The cases involve different legal theories, but both put fresh scrutiny on Meta’s apps portfolio. ## WhatsApp’s place in Meta’s courtroom week In one case, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable in a social media addiction trial brought over alleged harm to a young user’s mental health. The jury concluded that the companies intentionally built addictive platforms, a finding that adds to the pressure facing Meta across its family of apps, including WhatsApp, which it owns. That verdict involved Meta, with WhatsApp only indirectly relevant through ownership. The legal issues also differ: one case targets alleged addiction harms across Meta’s wider app business, while the other targets WhatsApp message privacy. The other dispute is narrower and centers directly on WhatsApp. It is a class action filed in federal court in California by Brian Y. Shirazi and Nida Samson. That case targets the company’s privacy promise rather than youth harm or addiction, and it raises a different question altogether: whether messages users believed were protected by end-to-end encryption could have been accessed. ## The California class action over private messages The WhatsApp lawsuit alleges that private messages could have been accessed by Meta, WhatsApp and third-party contractors despite the app’s encryption claims. It also raises questions about whether contractors could see message content that users expected to remain unreadable to anyone outside the chat. The complaint places Meta, WhatsApp and contractors in the same frame, making the privacy issue central rather than incidental. It does not resolve whether the messages were in fact exposed, but it does challenge the company’s longstanding promise that end-to-end encryption means even WhatsApp cannot read the contents of users’ conversations. The filing also appears to broaden the stakes beyond one-off access claims. By framing the case as a class action, the plaintiffs are seeking to represent a wider group of WhatsApp users, making the dispute about platform trust as well as the handling of private messages. ## Why the two cases should not be folded together The addiction verdict and the privacy class action point to separate problems. One is about whether social platforms were intentionally designed to keep young users hooked and damage their mental health. The other is about whether encrypted chats stayed private. That distinction matters because WhatsApp’s role is different in each case. In the addiction trial, WhatsApp enters the picture only as part of Meta’s ownership structure. In the privacy case, WhatsApp is the service at issue. These are two separate legal actions, and this article is covering the privacy case. The privacy case’s procedural status is still unclear, and the extent of any alleged access to messages remains an allegation. What is clear is that WhatsApp now sits at the intersection of two high-stakes legal fights over how Meta’s apps affect users, and how much users can trust what those apps promise. Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only. --- This news is powered by Powerblog. Visit https://getpowerblog.com to know more. ---