WhatsApp Adds Contact Grid to Forward Picker on iOS

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.