WhatsApp Messenger has introduced about a dozen new features for group chats, calls, and channels. One of the most notable additions is the new “Online” indicator, which shows how many participants in a group chat currently have the app open. This feature mirrors functions already available in other platforms — for instance, Discord shows the online status of server members. WhatsApp has not yet clarified whether users will be able to change their status manually, such as setting it to “offline.”
Managing group chat notifications is now easier. Users can customize what triggers notifications: mentions using the “@” symbol or messages from selected participants. The reaction system has also been refined. Now, users can choose one of the reactions already left by others and quickly reuse it — a feature similar to what Discord and Slack offer.
New event management tools have been added as well. Users can now respond to invitations with a “Maybe” option, bring a guest by selecting “plus one,” and include both a start and end time for longer events. Group events can also be pinned for easier access later. In addition, events can now be created not only in group chats but also in personal messages.
Channel Updates and iPhone Improvements
iPhone users, who could already set WhatsApp as the default app for calls and messages, can now also scan, trim, and save documents directly in the app. This enhances the platform’s utility for document handling on iOS devices.
For channels, WhatsApp has rolled out several updates, adds NIX Solutions. These include transcripts for voice messages, video notes up to 60 seconds long, and a feature to generate a QR code with the channel link — useful for attracting new subscribers. The quality of video calls has also been improved. Participants can now be added to video calls directly from the chat interface. Additionally, video scaling during calls has become available — this feature is currently limited to iPhones.
These new tools aim to improve user experience across chats, calls, and content sharing. We’ll keep you updated as more integrations become available.