WhatsApp is testing a new Contacts tab for its Android app. The feature is currently available in the latest beta version through the Google Play Store. The update is still being tested, so it has not reached all WhatsApp users. Beta testers can access the new tab if the feature is enabled for their account.
The new Contacts tab appears in the app’s navigation bar. It lists saved contacts and shows which people are currently online with a green dot. The tab also adds birthday reminders for people saved in your phone’s contacts. If someone has a birthday that day, a cake emoji and “Birthday today” appear beside their name.
WhatsApp will also use the section to help users invite people who are not yet on the platform. This could make it easier to add new users directly from the Contacts section. A search bar is placed at the top of the page. Users can search for contacts using their name, phone number, or WhatsApp username.
The contact list can also be sorted in two ways. Users can arrange it by activity, which puts online contacts first, or sort everyone alphabetically. WhatsApp will respect existing privacy settings in the new section. People who have disabled their last seen status will not appear as online.
The dedicated Contacts tab is still under development. WhatsApp could make further changes before releasing it to the stable Android app.
