New WhatsApp features updates: What’s changing in your app

WhatsApp has introduced a host of new features and updates across its Chats, Calls, and Updates tabs, enhancing how users connect and interact on the platform.

Chats: Enhanced expression and flexibility

The Chats tab, known for secure, encrypted conversations with friends and family, now includes several creative tools. Animated emojis have been introduced, adding motion to emojis to make interactions livelier, a WhatsApp blog reported.

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Users can also create animated stickers from their favorite videos with the new animated sticker maker, taking personalisation to the next level. Another addition is avatar social stickers, which can be shared in one-on-one chats, but only with users who have avatars and are saved contacts.

Group creation is now easier than ever—users can start a group with just a name and add participants later either directly or via a shared link. Sending multiple photos or videos has also been upgraded: users can now add a shared caption, and recipients can react or reply to the collection as a whole or to individual media items.

Calls: Filters and effects add fun to video interactions

In the Calls tab, WhatsApp has introduced six new filters and six fun effects for video calls and photo captures. The update aims to make visual communication more dynamic and engaging.

The Calls tab also continues to serve as a hub for making calls, sharing call links, and accessing call history.

Updates: More control over status and channels

The Updates tab, which houses Status and Channels, brings more ways to interact. Photo polls now allow channel admins to attach images to each poll option, making polls more visual and engaging.

Users can also star favorite channel updates for easy access later. In addition, WhatsApp now supports group mentions in Status. When a group is mentioned, all members are notified in the group chat and can reshare the Status to their own.

WhatsApp encourages users to stay tuned, as more features and improvements are on the way.