WhatsApp is working on a feature that would bring status updates directly into the chats tab, placing them in a horizontal row above the chat list in a layout similar to how Instagram displays stories.
The feature, spotted in a beta version of WhatsApp for Android, would let users see status updates without navigating away from their main conversation list. Currently, users can only view status updates by tapping the profile icon and scrolling through a separate section, or by switching to the Updates tab.
When the feature is enabled, the app will show up to three contacts who have recently posted a status update in the top bar. Scrolling down will reveal a full horizontal row of all available status updates above the chat list, including updates from contacts you don’t have an active conversation with and contacts that are archived. Status updates from muted contacts won’t appear in the main row but will be tucked into a separate section called “Hidden,” where users can still view them at their own pace.
The design means users won’t have to leave the chats tab to keep up with status updates. Instead of switching screens, they can scroll through their messages and check status updates from the same view.
The feature is still in early development and has not yet been released to beta testers. WhatsApp frequently tests features internally that never reach a public release. If the feature does ship, it would represent a notable shift in how the app handles status updates, bringing them closer to the central experience rather than keeping them in a separate tab that many users rarely visit.
