WhatsApp has changed a lot since I started using it a decade ago. With the number of features they push out each month, I don’t think it’ll be recognizable in the next year or two. But we’re also on its tail, keeping you up to date on all the new features added to our favorite messaging app each month. So here’s a list of all the new features added to WhatsApp in October 2024.
New WhatsApp Features Added in October 2024 (Stable)
Here is a list of all the new features added to WhatsApp in the month of October. These should be available to use on WhatsApp for Android, iPhone, and Web. If you haven’t received these features, then update the app to the latest version.
1. Private Mentions in Status Updates
- Available on Android and iPhone
With private mentions, you can secretly tag someone on WhatsApp status, similar to how you would do it on Instagram. Only the mentioned person will know about this. They can even reshare your status as their own. The feature remained in beta for a couple of months but is now rolling out to everyone. Check out our Private mentions guide to learn how to use this feature.
2. Create Custom Contact List
- Available on iPhone
You can already sort between your all, group, and favorite chats on WhatsApp. But now, you can create a custom contacts list, let’s say, for all your office buddies so you don’t have to scroll through your old chats to find them. This will make it easier to sort your contacts and find them when needed.
3. Photo and Video Call Filters
- Available on Android and iPhone
WhatsApp is also introducing background effects and filters similar to what we have seen in Google Meet and Zoom. It’ll let you blur your background, give your face a quick touch-up, or adjust the lightning. It will work while clicking a photo in a chat or during a video call.
Furthermore, it is being slowly pushed out in phases as some of our devices have received it, but some haven’t. If you don’t want to use these, then you can disable these filters from the Privacy settings of the app.
4. New Zoom Controls for Camera
- Available on Android and iPhone
In order to make it easier for you to capture shots and quickly upload them on WhatsApp, the meta-owned platform has released improved zoom controls for the in-app viewfinder for both Android and iOS. Using this, you can quickly jump between ultrawide, wide, and zoomed-in modes. Or you can use the slider to zoom in or out.
Previously you had to pinch to zoom, but this just makes things more one-hand friendly. One interesting thing I noticed is that while the default camera app on the iPhone 13 only lets me zoom in 5x, the WhatsApp zoom controls let me go up to 10x.
Upcoming WhatsApp Features in October 2024 (Beta)
These features are under development and should be available if you have the beta version of WhatsApp installed on your device. If not, they will come to your device sometime later.
5. React With Recently Used Emojis
- Testing on Android and iPhone
When you long-press a message, it shows a reaction tray with six default emojis. WhatsApp is expanding on this feature, allowing you to scroll through the reaction tray to access more emojis. This will also feature your recently used emojis, so you don’t have to search for them. This will make interactions more fun and engaging on the app. I know I’ll be making the most out of this feature.
6. Redesigned Typing Indicator
- Testing on Android and iPhone
WhatsApp’s “Typing…” indicator has become quite iconic among regular users of the app. However, it will be replaced with a more modern real-time typing indicator. Similar to what you may have seen in iMessage, Google Messages, or Facebook Messenger. I have had this feature for over a week, but my eyes still crawl up to check for the old-school indicator out of habit.
7. Manage Group Notifications
- Testing on Android
If you are part of a WhatsApp family group, chances are you might have muted it already to avoid the daily barrage of Good Morning messages. However, muting all notifications can lead you to miss out on some relevant messages.
This is why WhatsApp is adding an Activity option under Group Notification settings. From here, I can either choose to receive “All” messages or only those “Relevant to me”, like when someone mentions me or replies to my message.
8. Sync WhatsApp Contacts
- Testing on Android and iPhone
WhatsApp will soon let you save contacts in the app itself. You can sync contacts from linked devices, and you can choose whether you want to save them to your contacts or limit them to the app. Saved contacts will sync with your WhatsApp account, so you can restore them on any device.
9. Search On Web
- Testing on Android
WhatsApp has been fighting to curb fake information and scammers for years, and released several features to counter it. The company is now working on a new solution that lets you web search an image directly from the app using Google Lens’ reverse image searching feature. This will help people quickly find out the validity of an image, preventing them from falling for scams.
10. Meta AI Memory
- Testing on Android
WhatsApp previously added the option to choose LLM models for Meta AI, and now they are testing a Memory feature for the chatbot. This will let the AI store crucial information about the user, like food preferences, birthdate, choice of conversation style, and much more. This will help the AI offer answers that are tailored to the user and offer a level of personalization.
11. Add Music to Status Updates
- Testing on Android
This is a big one! WhatsApp is borrowing one of the most appealing aspects of Instagram stories. You can soon search and add music to your status updates directly on the app. This will make status updates far more engaging, and expressive, as you can add the right track to further highlight the emotions of your status. It is under development but should be released in the coming months.
12. Custom Sticker Packs
- Testing on Android
If you are that one friend who replies to every text with a sticker, then, WhatsApp is adding a way for you to organize them easily. The feature will let you create your own custom sticker pack where you can add your favorite or most used stickers, and even the ones received from others. This will help you find them easily when needed.
13. Get Link Info from Google
- Testing on Android
WhatsApp is adding another measure to prevent you from visiting malicious or phishing sites. It is called “Get link info from Google” and it will search for the link on Google before you open the link and visit the website. This will help you know whether the site itself is safe or not. To use it, you’ll have to long press on the link for the menu to pop up and then select “Get link info from Google”.
14. Status Updates in Widgets
- Testing on iPhone
WhatsApp is working on improving its widget for the iOS app. They will allow you to see status updates right from the widget without opening the app. This feature was previously available but was later removed due to redundancy. It is in the early stages of development, so it isn’t clear whether you can choose whose updates appear in the widget or the app does it for you. But it is still a neat addition for you to stay up to date with your close one’s status.
15. Manage Notifications from Third Party Apps
- Testing in Android
Last year we reported that WhatsApp is working on third-party chats, and after that, things have remained radio silent. But a new feature has popped up in beta, which shows that the app is working on an option to let you manage notifications from third-party apps. This means that cross-platform support is on its way to WhatsApp, and we should get it quite soon.
So these are pretty much all the major WhatsApp features that we got to see in October 2024. I personally love the attention status updates are getting, and I can’t wait for the add music feature to be available for everyone. Now if they port Instagram’s wide variety of stickers.
It is also worth noting how WhatsApp understands the issue of people being tricked into believing false information and clicking on malicious links and using the help of Google to counter it. If you have received the stable features we talked about above, then tell us about your experience with them, and which feature you are eagerly waiting to arrive on your device.
