Unmute Prompt for New Channels

WhatsApp is adding a new prompt that appears right after users follow a channel, suggesting they unmute it to receive notifications.

How it works
When a user follows a channel, WhatsApp replaces the “follow” button with an alert in the same spot. The alert informs the user that the channel is muted by default and offers the option to turn notifications on immediately. Channels remain muted by default — the prompt is a suggestion, not a requirement. Users who ignore the prompt keep the channel muted; those who change their mind later can adjust settings manually.

Why it’s needed
Channels are muted by default to avoid overwhelming users with notifications. However, many followers never change this setting, resulting in low view counts for admins. The prompt gives users a moment to reconsider and enables notifications for channels they truly care about, potentially increasing engagement for admins.

Status
The feature is available to some Android beta testers. Gradual rollout.

App Update Controls for Mac

WhatsApp is introducing a new “App updates” section in settings, allowing users to control how frequently the Mac app updates.

How it works
A new “App updates” section appears in settings on Mac, showing the current version and a “Check for updates” button. Users can choose between two update options: “Latest version” (daily builds with new bug fixes and features, potentially less stable) and “Stable weekly version” (bundled updates delivered once a week, prioritizing reliability). Users can switch between options at any time without reinstalling.

Why it’s needed
Gives users control over the update cadence. Daily builds provide the latest fixes and features but may include occasional bugs. Weekly builds are more stable and predictable, ideal for work use. This flexibility replaces the discontinued TestFlight beta program.

Status
The feature is available to some beta testers on the latest WhatsApp for Mac versions. Gradual rollout.

Three New Group Chat Features

WhatsApp is rolling out three new features to make group communication more efficient: improved polls, an @all mention, and faster group creation.

How it works
Polls now include: an end time option to close voting, anonymous voting to hide voter names, and the ability to edit the poll question within 15 minutes of sending. The @all mention lets users notify every group member at once (admins only in groups with 32+ members, anyone can in smaller groups). Users can mute @all notifications separately from other alerts. A new feature allows creating a new group from people already in an existing group, eliminating the need to add members manually one by one.

Why it’s needed
These features help groups make decisions faster and communicate more effectively. Anonymous voting encourages honest feedback, @all ensures important announcements are seen, and quick group creation simplifies splitting off conversations.

Status
All three features are widely rolling out to users on iOS and Android.

AI Content Label for Channel Admins

WhatsApp is developing a label for channel admins to mark updates that contain AI-generated media.

How it works
After sharing an update with AI-generated media, admins can tap and hold the message to open the context menu and select “Add AI content label”. This adds a visible label to the message bubble, informing followers that the media was created using artificial intelligence. The label applies to content from any AI tool (not just Meta AI). Text messages and content generated with Writing Help may be exempt.

Why it’s needed
Some regions require transparency for AI-generated media. The label helps channel admins comply with these legal obligations and builds trust with followers by clearly disclosing AI use.

Status
The feature is in development for Android, with iOS support planned. Not yet available to beta testers.

New Chat Theme Categories for Android

WhatsApp is testing a new set of chat themes organized into three categories: Featured, Doodle, and Minimal.

How it works
The “Featured” category includes animated wallpapers that move slowly across the background, adding a subtle dynamic effect. “Doodle” brings back the classic WhatsApp doodle wallpapers long-time users will recognize. “Minimal” keeps things clean with plain backgrounds (white for light mode, dark for dark mode). Bubble colors are automatically selected to match the wallpaper and ensure text readability, but users can still customize them manually.

Why it’s needed
Provides more variety and personalization for chat themes. The animated wallpapers offer a fresh experience, while classic doodle themes appeal to long-time users. The minimal option keeps the focus on conversations.

Status
The feature is in development for Android. Not yet available to beta testers.

Unmute Alert for Channels

WhatsApp is bringing the same unmute prompt for channels to iOS users, appearing right after they follow a channel.

How it works
After following a new channel, WhatsApp replaces the “follow” button with an alert in the same spot, informing the user that the channel is muted and offering an option to unmute it. The default behavior remains unchanged — channels are muted by default. The alert is a suggestion, not a requirement, giving users a moment to decide.

Why it’s needed
The alert helps users who genuinely want to see a channel’s updates to enable notifications immediately. For channel admins, this could increase view counts and engagement by encouraging followers to unmute.

Status
The feature is available to some beta testers on iOS, with some stable version users also seeing it. Gradual rollout.

Conclusion

This week, WhatsApp focused on improving channel engagement, giving users more control, and enhancing group communication. These updates make WhatsApp more flexible and transparent for both everyday users and channel admins.

At GREEN-API, we monitor all WhatsApp updates to bring you the latest news and solutions for automating your business processes. Stay with us to be the first to know about all the latest developments!