WhatsApp New Features Bring Major Upgrades to Chats, Calls, and Channels

Meta has rolled out a series of updates, introducing WhatsApp new features aimed at enhancing user experience across chats, calls, and Channels. These updates include real-time group indicators, improved reactions, enhanced event tools, and more control for iPhone users, making communication smoother and more efficient.

In group chats, users can now see a live indicator showing how many members are currently online. This feature appears directly beneath the group name, offering real-time availability insights. A new notification setting, ‘Notify for,’ lets users choose between alerts for all messages or only highlights such as @mentions and direct replies.

A major addition is the upgraded event management system. Events can now be created in both group and individual chats. Users can RSVP as ‘maybe,’ invite a guest, add end dates and times for longer events, and pin events within chats for easy reference.

Among the most interactive WhatsApp new features is the introduction of tappable reactions. Users can now instantly respond by tapping on a reaction, which streamlines engagement in fast-moving conversations. On iPhones, users gain a new convenience: scanning documents directly from WhatsApp via the attachment tray’s ‘Scan document’ option.

iOS-Specific Tools and Channel Enhancements

Video calling on iOS has also been enhanced. Users can pinch to zoom during calls for a closer view, and adding another person to an ongoing one-on-one call is now as simple as tapping the call icon in a chat and selecting ‘Add to call’. WhatsApp has also refined its call infrastructure, ensuring better connection paths and HD video quality.

For iPhone users, there’s a notable system-level change. WhatsApp can now be set as the default app for messaging and calling. To enable this, navigate to Settings > Default Apps and choose WhatsApp as your preferred option.

The ‘Updates’ tab has received a substantial boost. Channel admins can record and share short video notes of up to 60 seconds, while voice message transcripts now provide readable summaries of audio updates for convenience when users can’t listen.

To support growth, WhatsApp now lets channel admins create unique QR codes that link directly to their channels, simplifying promotion and expanding audience reach.