WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new Android feature that will let users preview messages without triggering read receipts. The feature will bring an existing iPhone capability to Android users.
Currently, WhatsApp users can disable read receipts entirely. However, those who keep them enabled have limited ways to read messages privately. Notifications offer a workaround, but they become less useful when dismissed or buried under multiple messages.
On iOS, users can long-press a conversation in the chat list to preview its latest messages. This opens a pop-up without triggering the blue ticks. However, the preview window cannot scroll, which limits how much users can read. Android currently handles this differently. Long-pressing a conversation only selects it and displays options to pin, archive, mute, or delete the chat.
That could soon change. A teardown of WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.26.44.12 has revealed code for a similar message preview feature. Users will reportedly see a floating card containing recent messages when they long-press a conversation. A refreshed context menu will also appear underneath.
Unlike the iOS version, Android users may also be able to scroll through the preview window. This will let them read older messages without opening the conversation. More importantly, read receipts will not be triggered during the process.
The feature remains under development and is not available to public beta testers yet. WhatsApp has also not announced when it might reach the stable version. As with other features discovered through app teardowns, there is no guarantee it will eventually launch. However, its arrival would bring WhatsApp on Android closer to the iOS experience.
