WhatsApp has started beta testing for some of its upcoming features, including Auto mute large group chats, Send message to yourself - entry point, a redesigned disappearing messages section for some Android users. The meta-owned app is even releasing Rich Link Preview - Text Status Updates for all users including Android and iOS.
Talking about the availability of upcoming WhatsApp features, WaBetaInfo reports that even if the platform is officially rolling out features for beta users, the updates may take some time to reach everyone else. These features will be available soon over the coming weeks. Let's take a detailed look at all the upcoming features for Android and iOS users.
WhatsApp is finally releasing the 'Send message to yourself' feature for Android for beta for Android. The feature will allow users to chat with themselves by opening the chat box with their own phone number. This way one can take quick notes or save important web links or files in their self-chat box.
While it was always possible to message your own number, there was no dedicated self-chat window on the contact list. Users used to save their phone number in contacts and then message themselves. Or even create a group with single participants to take notes or send media files. But with the new feature, WhatsApp will highlight a personal chat box 'Yourself (Me)' as the chat caption. So now your phone number will be displayed in WhatsApp's contact list for easier access.
Meanwhile, for iOS beta users, WhatsApp will release the self-chat feature for beta testers in upcoming days.
If you are tired of all the bulk messages and notification threads from groups, then this upcoming feature is for you. WhatsApp is releasing a new feature which will automatically mute large group chats to help reduce notifications. The update is currently rolled out for testing for WhatsApp beta for Android users.
Earlier, WhatsApp updated the group participants limit to 1024. So now WhatsApp will automatically mute groups with more than 256 participants. However, users can unmute and change notification settings at any time according to their liking.
WhatsApp with its new update is also releasing a new design for disappearing message feature setting in the privacy section. Users can change the setting of disappearing messages by going to WhatsApp Settings > Privacy > Default message timer. However, with the new design, WhatsApp has changed the name "default message timer section" to "disappearing messages". The revamped section will also have two sub categories, settings to 'Set for your account and 'Set for your current Chat'. In short, WhatsApp is making the process of setting a message timer easier.
Finally, WhatsApp is releasing rich link previews for text status updates to everyone. Now users can see link previews for links shared via Status Updates. This was one of the most awaited updates from WhatsApp and is now available for both Android and iOS.
If the feature is not available on your smartphone, then just update your WhatsApp from Play Store or App Store.
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