New Update WhatsApp Messenger - Stable and Beta updates

[simmerskool]

Introducing Advanced Chat Privacy: Enhanced Protection for Your Most Sensitive Conversations​

Introducing Advanced Chat Privacy: Enhanced Protection for Your Most Sensitive Conversations

We're introducing our latest layer for privacy called Advanced Chat Privacy. This new setting available in both chats and groups helps prevent others from taking content outside of WhatsApp for when you may want extra privacy.

blog.whatsapp.com

interesting or perhaps sad that the what's app blog does not provide version number & gee looking at what's app in my iphone I am NOT finding a version number. IMO the various privacy settings are somewhat confusing.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

Ditched WhatsApp. Too many scam messages and calls. I mean way too many. The report feature but does it do anything?

 

[lokamoka820]

As one of our biggest requests, we’re excited to announce that WhatsApp is now available on iPad.

Bringing all your favorite features to a larger screen, WhatsApp for iPad makes keeping in touch with friends and family even easier. Make video and audio calls with up to 32 people, share your screen, and use both front and back cameras.

We’ve made WhatsApp for iPad ideal for multitasking so you can get more done. Take advantage of iPadOS multitasking features such as Stage Manager*, Split View, and Slide Over to view multiple apps at once, so you can send messages while browsing the web, or research options for a group trip while on a call together. WhatsApp also works with your Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil.

WhatsApp for iPad uses our industry leading multi-device technology to keep everything in sync across your iPhone, Mac and other devices while protecting your personal messages, calls and media with end-to-end encryption, no matter what platform or device you’re messaging. Our extra layers of privacy, such as chat lock, mean that you can have private conversations in confidence even if you share your iPad with others.

This is only the start for WhatsApp on iPad, and we look forward to your feedback. Available to download from the App Store today.

*Stage Manager is available on iPad Pro with M4, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later) and iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Air 11-inch (M2 and later), iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later).

It's here! Introducing WhatsApp for iPad

As one of our biggest requests, we’re excited to announce that WhatsApp is now available on iPad.

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

Today we’re introducing some new features for our Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status. We’ve worked over the last two years to make this tab the place for you to discover something new on WhatsApp and it’s now used by 1.5 billion people a day. We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm and also want to help admins, organizations, and businesses grow on WhatsApp.

We’re going to do this in three ways:

• Channel subscriptions: You’ll be able to support your favorite channel by subscribing to receive exclusive updates for a monthly fee.
• Promoted Channels: We’ll help you discover new channels that might be interesting to you when you’re looking through the directory. For the first time, admins have a way to increase their Channel's visibility.
• Ads in Status: You’ll be able to find a new business and easily start a conversation with them about a product or service they’re promoting in Status.

These new features will appear only on the Updates tab, away from your personal chats. This means if you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones there is no change to your experience at all.

Helping you Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsApp

Today we're introducing some new features for our Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status.

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

With more than 3 billion users in over 180 countries, we’re always working to keep our users closely connected, no matter where they are in the world. But we understand that sometimes language can be a barrier to getting things done or expressing how you truly feel. That's why we’re excited to bring message translations to WhatsApp, so you can more easily communicate across languages.

If you see a message in a different language, you can now simply long-press and tap ‘Translate’. Choose the language you want the message to be translated from or to, and download it to be saved for future translations. This works for 1:1 chats, groups, and Channel updates too.

Android users will also be able to choose to turn on automatic translation for an entire chat thread, so that all future incoming messages in that conversation are translated as well.

Message translations were designed to protect the privacy of your chats. That’s why translations occur on your device where WhatsApp cannot see them.

We're rolling out message translations to Android and iPhone users gradually from today, in a few select languages to start with more to follow. Android users will find it available in six languages: English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. For our iPhone users, the feature will launch in 19+ languages.

We hope this feature helps break down language barriers and allows users to connect more deeply with loved ones and communities around the globe.

Introducing Message Translations

With more than 3 billion users in over 180 countries, we’re always working to keep our users closely connected, no matter where they are in the world. But we understand that sometimes language can be a barrier to getting things done or expressing how you truly feel. That's why we’re excited to...

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

Over the past few months, we’ve continued adding new features and updates to WhatsApp. Today’s roundup includes the ability to send Live and Motion photos, new ways to get creative with Meta AI, and much more!

Live and Motion photos: Now you can share Live Photos (iOS) and Motion Photos (Android) that capture life just as it is – complete with sound and movements – meaning you can share richer moments with friends on any platform.

New chat themes with Meta AI: Earlier this year we introduced Chat Themes as a way to customize your chats. Now you can use the power of Meta AI to boost your creativity and make custom chat themes of your own. (Meta AI features may not be available to all users.)

New backgrounds with Meta AI: Now with AI, you can create unique backgrounds for your video calls to put you in your favorite surroundings or try something new. You can also add AI backgrounds when taking photos and videos directly in chats.

New sticker packs: We’ve introduced new sticker packs to make your chats more expressive and fun. Download stickers from the Fearless Bird, School Days, or Vacation packs whose cute characters can sum up how you’re feeling without needing to say a word.

Easier group search: Group chat names sometimes get so creative that they can be hard to remember. Now, just search for someone you know that's in the group in your Chats tab, and it will display the groups you have in common.

Document scanning on Android: Now you can scan, crop, save and send documents directly from WhatsApp on Android devices (you can already do this on iPhone).

Stay tuned for more new features and updates soon!

New Feature Roundup: Live and Motion photos, creative Meta AI features, and more!

Over the past few months, we’ve continued adding new features and updates to WhatsApp. Today’s roundup includes the ability to send Live and Motion photos, new ways to get creative with Meta AI, and much more!

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

At WhatsApp, we think you should be able to have a private conversation online, just like you would in-person. We will always defend that right to privacy for everyone, starting with default end-to-end encryption. But we also know that a few of our users – like journalists or public-facing figures – may need extreme safeguards against rare and highly-sophisticated cyber attacks.

That’s why today we’re announcing a new, lockdown-style feature called Strict Account Settings.

If you turn this on, certain account settings will lock to the most restrictive settings, and it will limit how your WhatsApp works in some ways, like blocking attachments and media from people not in your contacts. You can enable Strict Account Settings – which is rolling out gradually over the coming weeks – by going to Settings > Privacy > Advanced.

Strict Account Settings is one of many ways we’re working to protect you from the most sophisticated of cyber threats. We’ve also rolled out a programming language called Rust behind the scenes to help keep your photos, videos, and messages safe from things like spyware, so you can share and chat with confidence. To go deeper in the tech, click here.

WhatsApp's Latest Privacy Protection: Strict Account Settings

WhatsApp's new Strict Account Settings feature provides extreme security against sophisticated cyber attacks by locking privacy settings and blocking media from non-contacts.

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

WhatsApp Web Gets Built-In Voice and Video Calling

WhatsApp has begun rolling out native voice and video calling directly within the browser version of the app, bringing it much closer to feature parity with WA mobile and desktop clients.

For a long time, WhatsApp Web has been perfect for replying to messages from a laptop, but frustratingly incomplete when it came to calls. If you wanted to jump on a voice or video chat, you had to switch to your phone or install the desktop app. That gap is finally closing.

WhatsApp Web Gets Built-In Voice and Video Calling - gHacks Tech News

After years of limitations, WhatsApp Web is rolling out native voice and video calls directly in the browser - complete with screen sharing and end-to-end encryption.

www.ghacks.net

 

[Halp2001]

Calls on WhatsApp Web are like opening a new balcony in the castle: more views, more air… and also more cracks for the wind to sneak in. Security promises armor, but the walls always need vigilance.

 

[lokamoka820]

We’re excited to introduce Group Message History, a feature that makes group chats even more welcoming without interruption. Now, group admins and members can choose to send recent messages to new members, so they can catch up quickly.

One of our most requested features, it’s another example of how WhatsApp is leading the way in group messaging, no matter your device. Group Message History remains end-to-end encrypted like all other personal messages, giving you a quicker, more private way to keep conversations flowing, with no more screenshots, and no more unnecessary message forwarding.

When you add someone new to a group chat, you’ll see an option to send recent messages to them - from 25 up to 100 maximum. This keeps things simple, ensuring new members only need to read the most relevant, recent context, and the whole group can easily see the messages that have been shared.

Sending message history is an action you have to take and admins have the option to disable the setting for their groups. Admins will always be able to share message history.

For transparency, when message history is sent, everyone in the group is notified, with clear timestamps and sender information, and message history is visually distinct from regular messages.

We’ve started rolling out Group Message History gradually, and look forward to continuing to set the standard for private, group chat experiences on WhatsApp.

Introducing Group Message History: A more private way to catch up in group chats

We’re excited to introduce Group Message History, a feature that makes group chats even more welcoming without interruption. Now, group admins and members can choose to send recent messages to new members, so they can catch up quickly.

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

WhatsApp Tests Optional Account Password for Logins

WhatsApp is working on a new security feature called an optional login password that could make account hijacking harder. The feature, spotted by WABetaInfo in the latest beta builds, adds an extra credential on top of the usual SMS code and two-step verification

According to the report, the new account password must be between 6 and 20 characters long and include at least one letter and one number. The app will evaluate password strength and allow users to update or remove the password at any time. The feature is optional, meaning users can choose whether to enable the additional protection.

WhatsApp Tests Optional Account Password for Logins - gHacks Tech News

WhatsApp is testing an optional alphanumeric account password to strengthen login security and make account hijacking more difficult.

www.ghacks.net

 

[lokamoka820]

Introducing parent-managed accounts on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is the trusted way families communicate because it’s simple, private, and reliable. With input from families and experts, we're rolling out new parent-managed accounts that allow parents or guardians to set up WhatsApp for pre-teens, with new controls to limit their WhatsApp experience to messaging and calling.

To begin, parents will need the phone they have bought for their family member and their own device, side by side to link their accounts. Once set up, these accounts are controlled by the parent or guardian who will be able to decide who can contact the account and which groups they can join. In addition, parents can review message requests from unknown contacts and manage the account’s privacy settings.

The new parental controls and settings are gated by a parent PIN on the managed device. Only parents can access and change privacy settings, ensuring they are empowered to tailor their family’s experience.

All personal conversations remain private and protected with end-to-end encryption, meaning no one—not even WhatsApp—can see or hear them. We’re providing more tools and insights for parents, particularly around groups, which you can learn more about here.

WhatsApp is already an important part of family life - whether updating extended family on big milestones, keeping up with after school plans or just letting loved ones know you’re home safe. As we gradually roll out parent-managed accounts over the coming months, we look forward to getting your feedback so we can continue building WhatsApp to provide the safest and most private way for families to connect.

To learn more about setting up a parent-managed account click here.

Introducing parent-managed accounts on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is the trusted way families communicate because it’s simple, private, and reliable.

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

New Feature Roundup: Free up space, multiple accounts, cross-platform transfer and more

Over time, our chats become a record of the moments that matter: conversations with family, laughs with friends, the photos and videos we couldn't stop sharing. To help you make the most of all of it, we're rolling out new ways to make WhatsApp even easier to use — whether you're staying organized, juggling work and personal, or getting more out of every chat.

Free up space, keep what matters: As your chats fill up, so can the clutter. Now you can find and delete large files directly within any chat, so you can clear what you don't need without wiping your entire conversation. Simply tap the chat name and select Manage Storage. You can also choose to clear just media files when clearing a chat – keeping your chat history intact.

Cross-platform chat transfer made easy: Our chat transfer feature now supports moving your chat history from iOS to Android, in addition to within the same platform. Changing phones shouldn't be complicated. Now, with just a couple taps, your conversations, photos, and videos easily come with you.

Two accounts, one phone – now on iOS: You can now have two WhatsApp accounts logged in at the same time on iOS—just like on Android. No more carrying two phones to keep work and personal separate. You’ll always know which account you’re in because your profile picture will now be visible in the bottom tab.

Stickers that match your mood: Stickers can bring bigger, bolder expressions to your chats—and now WhatsApp will make it easier to use them by suggesting them as you type emojis. With just a tap, you can swap an emoji for a sticker that captures exactly how you're feeling.

Photo touch-ups with Meta AI: You can now use Meta AI to touch up photos directly in your chat before sending, making it easy to remove something distracting, swap in a new background, or apply a fun style. Meta AI features may not be available to all users.

AI Writing Help is even more useful: Writing Help can now draft a suggested response based on your conversation, so you can get your message just right – all while keeping your chats completely private.

These features are rolling out now and will be available to everyone soon. We hope they make your WhatsApp even simpler to use.

New Feature Roundup: Free up space, multiple accounts, cross-platform transfer and more

Over time, our chats become a record of the moments that matter: conversations with family, laughs with friends, the photos and videos we couldn't stop sharing. To help you make the most of all of it, we're rolling out new ways to make WhatsApp even easier to use — whether you're staying...

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[RoboMan]

Cross-platform chat transfer made easy: Our chat transfer feature now supports moving your chat history from iOS to Android, in addition to within the same platform. Changing phones shouldn't be complicated. Now, with just a couple taps, your conversations, photos, and videos easily come with you.

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lokamoka820]

WhatsApp is rolling out long-overdue username privacy feature

WhatsApp started to work on usernames about three years ago, but the Meta-owned app is just about to start rolling the feature out to a first batch of users, reports WABetaInfo.

You can add a username in the settings. Once you do, you may share the username with others to get them to add you to the messenger. Good news is that you can further protect the username with a code, which others need to provide when they try to add you.

However, there are quite a few limitations regarding usernames. Here are noteworthy ones:

• The username can be between 3 and 23 characters in length.
• It needs to start with a letter, and can only contain letters, numbers, underscore, and a period.
• It can’t be a domain name or start with www.
• It can’t be taken, if someone on Instagram or Facebook picked it already. The user who picked it can get it on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp is rolling out long-overdue username privacy feature - Chipp.in Tech News and Reviews

If you use the popular messaging service WhatsApp, you know that you can only add contacts to the service with a phone number. Don’t have...

chipp.in

 

[lokamoka820]

WhatsApp Plus launches: would you pay for these features?

For a price of 2.50 Euro per month (roughly 2.94 US Dollar), the price is not known for all regions), users get a range of extra features. WhatsApp reassures users that all core features remain free.

• Send premium stickers – exclusive stickers that recipients also see, but can’t use.
• Change your app’s theme – get 18 new colors options.
• Choose a custom app icon – change the default icon of the app.
• Pin extra chats – pin up to 20 chats.
• Get premium ringtones – ten exclusive ringtones.
• Upgrade your chat lists – enables options to update chats in bulk.

WhatsApp Plus launches: would you pay for these features? - Chipp.in Tech News and Reviews

The writing was on the wall for some time. Meta-owned WhatsApp is rolling out a paid subscription service called WhatsApp Plus to a first batch...

chipp.in

 

[lokamoka820]

Introducing Incognito Chat with Meta AI: A completely private way to chat with AI

Chatting with AI has quickly become a critical part of how people get information and ask important questions. And many of these questions can be deeply sensitive, or include situations where people are including private financial, personal, health or work data with their questions.

Ten years ago we brought the world end-to-end encryption and now we are extending this privacy to chats with Meta AI.

Today we're launching Incognito Chat with Meta AI, a new way to have completely private conversations with AI. Built on top of our Private Processing technology, Incognito Chat lets you talk to Meta AI in a way that is invisible to anyone else.

Other apps have introduced incognito-style modes, but they can still see the questions coming in and the answers going out. Incognito Chat with Meta AI is truly private — no one can read your conversation, not even us.

Since we started exploring bringing AI to WhatsApp, we've been focused on how to deliver this power privately, at a global scale.

When you start an Incognito Chat with Meta AI, you're creating a private, temporary conversation that only you can see. Your messages are processed in a secure environment that even Meta cannot access. Your conversations are not saved and by default, your messages disappear — giving you a space to think and explore ideas without anyone watching.

We believe this private way of chatting has potential to be part of several ways people chat with AI on WhatsApp. In the coming months, we’ll also introduce Side Chat protected by Private Processing. Side Chat with Meta AI will give you private help with any chat, with context of what's being discussed, without disrupting the main conversation.

We remain committed to delivering privacy for the world. Incognito Chat with Meta AI is rolling out on WhatsApp and the Meta AI app over the coming months. You can learn more about how Incognito Chat with Meta AI works here.

Introducing Incognito Chat with Meta AI: A completely private way to chat with AI

Chatting with AI has quickly become a critical part of how people get information and ask important questions. And many of these questions can be deeply sensitive, or include situations where people are including private financial, personal, health or work data with their questions.

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

Celebrating Football with New Features on WhatsApp

Nothing brings people together quite like football: last-minute goals, the unbelievable saves, and the moments that make you jump and shout. The only thing that matches the energy on the pitch is your group chat. Whether it’s polls predicting each match winner, voice notes flying across time zones after an incredible bicycle kick, or post-match calls to debrief all the action.

This month, 48 teams will play for the ultimate prize in football, and we built something to match the fever pitch. Starting today, we are rolling out features across WhatsApp to make following the tournament with the people you care about even more fun.

New ways to capture the moment across chats and calls

Thanks to our friends at adidas, Trionda - the official match ball for this summer's tournament - is now on WhatsApp. From now through to the final, the football emoji has been upgraded with the Trionda ball. Send it as a message or drop it as a reaction and see what happens.

We've also introduced new football calling effects so you can bring the fun and fandom to your next group video call. And for when you need just the right sticker to express how you feel after that missed penalty kick or questionable red card, we've rolled out a football-themed sticker pack to better express how you’re really feeling about a game.

Channels: Your ultimate information hub

During the tournament, you can expect matchday countdowns, behind-the-scenes moments, and real-time highlights from channels across WhatsApp. We've created a dedicated football directory to bring together your favorite teams, latest scores, and updates all in one place for easy access.

We’re also rolling out the ability for these Channels to post to Status. You’ll see statuses from channels you follow alongside other statuses, and can also view a channel’s status when you visit a Channel. You can hide any channel's statuses so it no longer appears alongside your statuses, or unfollow the channel at any time.

And for when you're looking for quick answers, Meta AI powered by Muse Spark is your go-to tool for up-to-the minute updates, including the latest tournament standings, player details, or the best spots near you to watch the next game.

As always, your personal messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default: your predictions, your hot takes, and your voice note rants stay between you and the people you share them with. So whether you are watching from a living room in Chicago, a café in São Paulo, or a fan zone in Paris, WhatsApp is where you can privately celebrate, commiserate, and enjoy these special moments with the people who matter most.

Celebrating Football with New Features on WhatsApp

Nothing brings people together quite like football: last-minute goals, the unbelievable saves, and the moments that make you jump and shout.

blog.whatsapp.com

 

[lokamoka820]

It’s time to reserve your WhatsApp username

When someone new walks into your life – a classmate, a neighbor, someone you meet at an event – sharing a phone number can feel like a big step. That’s because a phone number is personal and it’s tied to so many parts of your life. Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits.

This is also true for group conversations. You want to join the parent chat for the soccer team but you’re not ready to give your phone number to people you've never met.

That's why we're introducing usernames for WhatsApp. Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch this feature. With over three billion people on WhatsApp a lot of names overlap, which is why we're opening reservations early so everyone has the opportunity to select the username that matters to them.

For most people, choosing a WhatsApp username should be something unique that only people you want to contact you will know. If you need help picking one, we have a username generator to make one work just for you.

We also know that some people like creators, small businesses, and organizations may want to maintain a consistent presence online. For them, we reserved an option to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp.

Usernames are our latest step to make WhatsApp even more private. There's no directory to browse and no suggestions – people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time. To help control who can reach you on WhatsApp with your username, we've built an optional username key that others will need to know to message you.

Once we launch usernames, when you message a person or business for the first time they will no longer see your phone number, if you enabled your username.

Reserving your optional username takes just a few seconds on the latest version of WhatsApp – go to Settings > Account > Username.

We'll be rolling out usernames gradually over the coming months and will notify you in WhatsApp when they're available in your country.

It’s time to reserve your WhatsApp username

When someone new walks into your life - a classmate, a neighbor, someone you meet at an event - sharing a phone number can feel like a big step. That's because a phone number is personal and it's tied to so many parts of your life. Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits.

blog.whatsapp.com