WhatsApp October 2023 update: What’s new and improved?
This article talks about all the new features and changes spotted in WhatsApp Android, WhatsApp for Windows and WhatsApp Web. iOS and macOS coverage will be low here.
First things first, now WhatsApp Channels are available to everyone and we have our own WhatsApp Channel. Let’s see what we are going to cover in this article…
Table of Contents
WhatsApp is getting a new look
WhatsApp started testing a new user interface for WhatsApp Android. This new UI consists of various changes;
- New accent color
- Darker dark mode
- Uniform status bar
- New icons
- Outlined buttons
And a much more refined user interface is being tested by WhatsApp.
Currently, the new user interface for WhatsApp is available only for some WhatsApp beta testers.
WhatsApp will now hide your IP address for calls
WhatsApp added a new feature to protect IP address in calls which safeguards the user’s IP by relaying calls through WhatsApp’s servers.
This feature is intended to make detecting a user’s location through calls harder.
Currently, the hide IP feature for WhatsApp is only available for testers using Android and iOS versions of WhatsApp.
Reply to WhatsApp statuses with animated Avatars
Similar to Instagram users can now react to WhatsApp status with animated Avatar stickers.
Currently, this feature is only available for beta testers using WhatsApp Android.
Now users can send self-destructive audio messages on WhatsApp
WhatsApp for Android started testing a new feature called view-once voice notes feature. This will let users send voice recordings that can only be listened once.
This is quite similar to view-once media of WhatsApp and I believe instead of view-once this should be called hear-once.
Currently, this feature is only available for WhatsApp beta testers.
WhatsApp status search is back
After removing the ability to search statuses because of the new updates/channels tab launch WhatsApp testing a reimplemented search for updates tab.
This new search can be used to search a specific status from a contact or it can also used to search for channels.
Currently, the new status search is available only to WhatsApp Android beta testers.
Edit and Copy post links on WhatsApp Channels
Now admins can edit WhatsApp channel posts for up to 30 days and users can copy links for specific WhatsApp channel posts.
Currently, the ability to edit posts and copy post links for WhatsApp channels is widely rolling to WhatsApp Android and iOS users.
Voice chats on WhatsApp
WhatsApp testing a new feature called voice chats on WhatsApp groups. This feature will let users quickly start a voice chat silently.
Whenever a new voice chat starts the group participants won’t be notified instead WhatsApp will send a silent notification to users.
Currently, voice chats in WhatsApp are being tested for random users this includes stable and beta versions of the application.
Minor changes spotted in WhatsApp android
Control over WhatsApp channel reactions
Channel admins can now control what type of reactions that channel followers can use. For now, there are two options any emoji or default only (6 default reactions).
Contact reactions for Channel admin
WhatsApp channel admins can now see whenever someone from their contact reacts to a post thanks to this new contacts reaction filter.
Changes spotted in WhatsApp web and WhatsApp for Windows
Create Channels with WhatsApp web
Users can now create WhatsApp channels with WhatsApp web.
Currently, the ability to create WhatsApp channels on the web is available to almost everyone.
Start WhatsApp chats without adding to contacts
WhatsApp for Windows users can now start chats with phone numbers.
This will let users start a conversation without saving mobile numbers. However, Uber driver love stories are being threatened by this feature 😂
Currently, the ability to start a WhatsApp chat without saving is available to everyone who uses WhatsApp for Windows.
These are the all changes and features in WhatsApp that I managed to spot within the past month. Since Channels are already available to everyone I recommend joining our WhatsApp Channel or Following us on X to keep yourself up to date with the latest tech news and updates.
Follow
