WhatsApp is incorporating a new menu in iPhone chats that gathers quick access options to search messages, check files, and modify conversation settings without needing to first open the contact information screen.
The news was documented this Friday, October 9, by the specialized portal WABetaInfo, which detected it in WhatsApp for iOS 26.39.75. The feature is being gradually rolled out to users who already have the Liquid Glass interface enabled and has not yet appeared in all accounts.
The change is located at the top of individual and group chats. There, a new button displays the profile picture, the name, and, when privacy settings permit, whether the contact is online or their last connection. Tapping it reveals a floating menu with various conversation functions.
The six options of the new WhatsApp menu
In individual chats, the menu offers six options:
- Search: locate messages within the conversation.
- Contact information: check the details of the person you are conversing with.
- Files, links, and documents: review the content shared in the chat.
- Chat Topic: customizing the appearance of the conversation.
- Temporary messages: access the settings for messages that disappear after a certain period.
- Mute: manage notifications for that conversation.
Similar accesses appear in the groups, and the option to add participants is included. Conversations with business accounts show an adapted version of the menu.
Why does WhatsApp change the top part of the chats?
The redesign is related to Liquid Glass, the interface of translucent elements that WhatsApp has been incorporating into its version for iPhone. According to WABetaInfo, the contact name could be hard to read against certain wallpapers when it appeared directly over the navigation bar.
To enhance readability, the new button uses a background that visually adapts to the content behind it. This modification also allows access to common functions with fewer steps, without having to leave the conversation to open the full profile of the contact or group.
How to check if the new menu is already available
iPhone users can check if they have a pending update for WhatsApp in the App Store and then open any conversation. If the account has the new feature enabled, they will see the button at the top of the chat and can tap it to access the quick options.
Version 26.39.75 is compatible with the change, but installing it does not guarantee that the menu will appear immediately. WABetaInfo indicates that it is also available to some test participants via TestFlight and that the rollout will continue over the coming weeks.
At the moment, no general availability date has been announced. The change described pertains to WhatsApp for iPhone and should not be confused with other navigation modifications that the app is developing separately for Android.
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