This week, WhatsApp delighted users with several major updates: the ability to send messages that disappear after reading was added, multiple accounts were officially launched on iOS, and the built-in AI received a dedicated tab. Language options were also expanded and the voice message design was improved.
Table of Contents
Disappearing Messages After Reading
WhatsApp is developing a feature that will allow users to choose whether messages automatically disappear after being read.
How it will work
A new option, “After Reading,” will be added to the Disappearing Messages settings. When selected, the sent message will disappear from the sender’s chat after 15 minutes and from the recipient’s chat after 15 minutes after they open it. If the message is never read, it will automatically be deleted after 24 hours. This feature is compatible with disabled read receipts.
Why it’s needed
This provides the highest level of privacy for sensitive information: one-time passwords, personal data, or temporary instructions. The sender can be confident that the message will not remain in the history, even if the recipient doesn’t read it immediately.
Status
This feature is in development for Android. Expected in a future update.
Liquid Glass for the Voice Message Player
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will add a “Liquid Glass” design to the voice message player in the future.
How it will work
The voice message player, which appears as a green bar when switching between chats, will receive a Liquid Glass-style design. The bar will be floating and translucent, with a circular progress indicator integrated into the sender’s avatar. A 5-second rewind button will be added.
Why it’s needed
This creates a visual unity in the interface—the player will no longer feel out of place. Rewinding by 5 seconds will allow you to replay a fragment without returning to the original chat.
Status
This feature is in development for iOS. A release is expected after Liquid Glass becomes widely available.
13 New Language Packs for Message Translation
WhatsApp is introducing 13 additional language packs, allowing users to translate their messages into more languages.
How it will work
In addition to the previously available six languages (Arabic, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and English), 13 new packages have been added: Czech, German, French, Indonesian, Italian, Latvian, Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Simplified Chinese. Translation is performed locally on the device, without sending data to servers.
Why it’s needed
This significantly expands the audience that can use built-in message translation. This is especially relevant for regions of Central and Eastern Europe and Asia.
Status
This feature is currently available to some Android beta testers. It will gradually become available to more users.
Premium feature: Unified settings for lists
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow users to manage their lists using unified settings.
How it will work
WhatsApp Plus subscribers will be able to set a single configuration for all chats within a single list. For example, you can select a specific theme, ringtone, and notification sound for the “Work” list. When you add a new chat to this list, the settings will be applied automatically.
Why it’s needed
This saves time when managing large numbers of conversations. It allows you to instantly recognize the category from which a message or call comes by its sound.
Status
This feature is in development for Android. It will be part of the paid WhatsApp Plus subscription.
Official Release of Several Features
WhatsApp is rolling out new features that make messaging more flexible and convenient than ever.
How it will work
WhatsApp announced the widespread rollout of several new features on its official blog:
- Multiple accounts on iOS — now you can use two WhatsApp accounts simultaneously on a single device by switching from the “You” tab.
- Cross-platform chat transfer — transfer history between iOS and Android over Wi-Fi, without a cable.
- Storage management from within a chat — now you can quickly access media files in the chat details, sort them by size and date, and bulk delete.
- Sticker suggestions — when you type emoji, WhatsApp suggests suitable third-party stickers.
- AI-powered photo editing — enhance and animate images right in the chat before sending.
- Text assistance — a grammar and tone assistant with private editing.
Why it’s needed
This provides convenience for multiple account holders, easy switching between platforms, saving memory and time on media searches, and faster and more expressive communication.
Status
These features are starting to roll out to iOS users. They will gradually become available to all users without the need to update the app.
Dedicated tab for built-in AI
WhatsApp is launching a dedicated tab for artificial intelligence, which will unite all AI-powered features in one convenient hub.
How it will work
A new AI tab has appeared in the bottom navigation bar, replacing the “Communities” tab (communities are still available in the “Chats” tab). This tab combines:
- chat with assistant,
- image generation from text,
- photo animation,
- voice settings (AI voice selection),
- memory management (what the AI remembers about the user),
- conversation history as separate threads (can be renamed).
Why it’s needed
This is necessary to centralize all AI tools in one place and ensure easy access without unnecessary clicks. Furthermore, removing the floating AI button from “Chats” will make the interface cleaner.
Status
The feature is available to some beta testers on iOS, as well as some users of the stable version from the App Store.
Conclusion
WhatsApp has made a significant leap forward in personalization and privacy: disappearing messages, multiple accounts on iOS, and a dedicated AI center. Visual and language improvements make the app more user-friendly for a global audience.
At GREEN-API, we’re keeping an eye on the news and will keep you informed about all the significant updates. We’re also constantly working on introducing new features to our service to make your experience even more convenient. Follow our blog to stay informed about new and useful features in WhatsApp!