Mobile Phones

WhatsApp New Features for Android — What's New, What's in Beta and Who Can Use It

By MayreDukaan Editorial TeamPublished 14 Nov 20263 min read

A hand holding an Android phone showing a chat app with a floating bottom navigation bar

WhatsApp is testing several new Android features in November 2026, including view-once text messages, a new floating bottom navigation bar, a Contacts tab and separate Meta AI chats. All of them are in beta and reaching only some testers so far, according to WABetaInfo; WhatsApp has not announced dates for the regular app. Here is what each one does and how to check whether you have it.

The new features at a glance

Feature	What it does	Beta version spotted	Status
View-once text messages	A text the recipient can open only once	2.26.45.6	Rolling out to some beta testers
Floating bottom navigation bar	Tab bar shrinks to a small pill as you scroll	2.26.45.3 / 2.26.45.5	Rolling out to some beta testers
Contacts tab	New tab for contacts, favourites and who is online; replaces Communities for now	2.26.45.1 / 2.26.45.2	Rolling out to some beta testers
Meta AI chats in the chat list	Named AI conversations with their own photo, under a new filter	2.26.44.6	Rolling out to some beta testers

None of these features has been announced for the regular (stable) WhatsApp app yet, and WhatsApp can change or drop beta features before release.

View-once text messages

Until now, view once worked only for photos, videos and voice messages. In beta 2.26.45.6, some testers can send text that disappears after it is read.

Type your message.
Press and hold the Send button.
Choose View once.

The recipient taps to open the message on a separate screen. While it is open, it cannot be copied, forwarded or saved, and screenshots and screen recordings are blocked. Once it is closed it cannot be reopened. You cannot schedule a view-once text.

Important: blocking screenshots does not make a message fully private. Someone can still photograph the screen with another phone, so do not rely on it for very sensitive information.

WhatsApp is refreshing the tab bar at the bottom of the app. The new bar has rounded corners, no text labels and circular highlights for the selected tab. When you scroll down your chat list it shrinks into a compact floating pill, and it expands again when you scroll up.

Contacts tab

A new Contacts tab lets you see your contacts, a Favourites section and who has been recently active, sort the list and start a chat quickly. In this first phase it takes the place of the Communities tab.

Meta AI chats in your chat list

Conversations with Meta AI can now become separate chats with a name and a custom picture, found under a new filter in the Chats tab. This builds on the earlier "threads" feature inside the Meta AI chat.

Also being tested

WABetaInfo also reports early work on features that are not available to testers yet, including "Zaps" (instant photos and videos that disappear once seen), a quick way to share a location as a status update, and more text sticker designs. Treat these as experiments.

How to check for updates or join the beta

Update normally: open the Google Play Store, search WhatsApp and tap Update if it appears.
Join the beta: on the WhatsApp page in the Play Store, scroll to "Join the beta" if places are available. Beta versions can be less stable.
Seeing the version you have: WhatsApp › Settings › Help › App info.

Even with the right beta version, a feature may not appear yet, because WhatsApp turns new features on for small groups of users at a time.

Frequently asked questions

Can I send a view-once text on WhatsApp?

Only if you are one of the Android beta testers who have received it (beta 2.26.45.6 or later). It has not reached the regular app yet.

Does view once stop screenshots of text?

Yes, while the message is open screenshots and screen recording are blocked, but someone can still photograph the screen with another device.

Why don't I see the new navigation bar?

WhatsApp is releasing it gradually to some beta testers. Having the same version number does not guarantee you get the feature.

Is the Communities tab gone?

For testers who get the new Contacts tab, it replaces Communities in this first phase. WhatsApp may change this before a wider release.

When will these features reach everyone?

WhatsApp has not announced a date. Beta features can change or be dropped before release.

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Sources

Facts last checked against these sources on 14 Nov 2026, 06:41 Pakistan time.