This week, WhatsApp delighted users with a number of significant updates: new message animations on iOS with the option to disable them, the long-awaited Liquid Glass for the chat screen, protection against account takeovers, mentions in text statuses on Android, search for channel updates on iOS, and Liquid Glass for iPad.
Table of Contents
New Message Animation on iOS
WhatsApp is bringing back the message sending animation on iOS, this time with an option to disable it in settings.
How it works
When sending or receiving a message, the bubble now appears smoothly with a fade-in effect and slight scaling animation. Users can enable or disable the animation in Settings > Chats > Animations. This same section also allows users to control animations for emojis, stickers, and GIFs. Previously, the animation was removed from iOS because there was no way to turn it off.
Why it’s needed
Animations make the interface feel more responsive and alive. The toggle allows users who are sensitive to visual effects to disable them. It also unifies the experience between iOS and Android.
Status
The feature is available to some iOS beta testers. It will gradually become available to more users over time.
Liquid Glass for Chat Interface
WhatsApp is completing the adaptation of the chat screen to the Liquid Glass design, updating the chat bar and navigation bar.
How it works
The chat bar now appears as a floating element with a translucent, glass-like background that reflects the content behind it. The button to jump to the latest message also follows the Liquid Glass style. The navigation bar at the top of the chat screen is now transparent with a subtle fade effect, allowing messages and wallpapers to remain visible underneath.
Why it’s needed
This completes WhatsApp’s transition to the unified Liquid Glass design language on iOS 26. The interface becomes more modern, lighter, and more dynamic. The chat screen now visually matches the rest of the app.
Status
The feature is available to some iOS beta testers, as well as some users on the stable version from the App Store. It will gradually become available to more users over time.
Account Takeover Protection
WhatsApp is introducing a scam warning when someone tries to link a new device to your account.
How it works
When someone attempts to link a new device, WhatsApp analyzes the request for suspicious activity (such as unusual location). If something seems off, the user sees a warning about potential fraud, including the approximate location of the device trying to connect. The warning also explains what the attacker would be able to do if the linking succeeds. The user can either cancel the request or confirm it if they’re sure they initiated the linking themselves.
Why it’s needed
This protects against a common type of scam where attackers trick users into entering a code or scanning a QR code to link their device to someone else’s account. It gives users a moment to stop and verify whether they actually initiated the linking process.
Status
The feature is available on both iOS and Android. It is being rolled out gradually.
Mentions in Text Status Updates
WhatsApp is expanding the mention feature, allowing users to tag contacts in text status updates — previously this was only available for statuses with photos or videos.
How it works
When creating a text status, a mention button appears above the send button. Tapping it opens the contact picker. The mentioned contact receives a private notification and a message in their chat letting them know they were tagged. Other viewers of the status cannot see that anyone was mentioned. The mentioned contact can always view the status, even if they wouldn’t normally have access (privacy settings are ignored for mentioned contacts).
Why it’s needed
This makes the mention feature available for any type of status. It simplifies getting the attention of specific people for text updates.
Status
The feature is available to some Android beta testers. It will gradually become available to more users over time.
Channel Update Search
WhatsApp is finally making the channel update search feature available to iOS users.
How it works
A search button now appears in the channel info screen. Entering a keyword displays all channel updates containing it. Users can also jump to a specific date. The feature works similarly to search in regular chats and groups. Administrators can use search to quickly find older updates and reply to them.
Why it’s needed
This allows users to quickly find specific posts in channels with a large number of updates. It saves time for followers and simplifies work for administrators.
Status
The feature is widely available to iOS users in the App Store version.
Liquid Glass for iPad
WhatsApp is beginning to roll out the Liquid Glass design to the iPad app, updating the tab bar, navigation bar, and buttons.
How it works
The tab bar at the bottom of the screen now appears as a floating, translucent element (without text labels under the icons, unlike on iPhone). The navigation bar becomes transparent when scrolling. Buttons and the context menu receive the same glass-like style with fluid animations. The design matches what’s already available on iPhone, with some minor differences (e.g., no text labels in the tab bar).
Why it’s needed
This unifies the visual experience between iPhone and iPad. It makes the interface on iPad modern and consistent with other Apple platforms.
Status
The feature is available to some iPad beta testers, as well as some users on the stable version. It will gradually become available to more users over time.
Conclusion
This week, WhatsApp focused on completing major visual updates, improving security, and enhancing the user experience. These changes make the app not only more beautiful but also more secure and convenient for everyday use.
At GREEN-API, we keep a close eye on WhatsApp news and will inform you about all significant updates. We are also constantly working on implementing new features into our service to make your work more convenient. Follow our blog to stay updated on new and useful WhatsApp features!