This week, WhatsApp continued to improve its user experience: the long-awaited message scheduling feature was released, Liquid Glass design made its way to the chat panel, and important regulatory changes took effect in India and Brazil. Furthermore, status ads and promoted channels became available globally. Learn more in our digest.
Table of Contents
Scheduling Chat Messages
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow users to schedule messages in chats.
How it will work
Users will be able to compose a message and then select the date and time for it to be automatically sent. Scheduled messages will appear in a special section within the chat details, where they can be edited or deleted before sending. The feature will be available in both private and group chats.
Why it’s needed
This feature helps you remember to send an important greeting, reminder, or work announcement. The message is sent automatically at the scheduled time, even if the user is busy or offline.
Status
This feature is in development for iOS and Android. Expected in a future update.
Liquid Glass for the Chat Bar
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will add a “Liquid Glass” design to the chat bar.
How it will work
The message input panel will receive a refreshed Liquid Glass-style design: it will be “floating,” with a translucent background that dynamically responds to scrolling and surrounding content. The buttons and input field will be visually separated while maintaining their functionality.
Why it’s needed
This completes the adaptation of the WhatsApp interface to the modern design language of iOS 26. It makes the app visually lighter and more modern, improving comprehension over long periods of use.
Status
The feature is in development for iOS. Liquid Glass rollout remains phased.
Mandatory SIM card linking for users in India
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will bring the app into compliance with the mandatory SIM card linking rule in India.
How it will work
In accordance with new requirements from the Indian regulator, WhatsApp will periodically verify that your account is linked to an active SIM card with the same number. To confirm, you will be required to enter a 6-digit code sent via SMS. Until the verification is complete, account access may be restricted, but chat history will be preserved.
Why it’s needed
This measure is aimed at preventing fraud with reissued SIM cards and improving account security. The changes only apply to numbers with the +91 area code.
Status
This feature is in development for Android and will be rolled out gradually.
Automatic privacy settings for minors in Brazil
WhatsApp is implementing a feature that brings privacy settings for minors into compliance with Brazilian law.
How it will work
In accordance with Brazil’s ECA Digital law, WhatsApp automatically tightens privacy settings for users under a certain age. If a minor previously had “Last seen,” “About me,” or “Profile links” set to “All,” they will be changed to “My contacts.” Upon first use of the app, these settings are immediately set to “My contacts.”
Why it’s needed
To provide additional protection for minors in the digital environment and restrict unauthorized access to personal information.
Status
This feature has started rolling out to beta testers in Brazil using the Android version of the app. It will be available to all users in the region soon.
Global Launch of In-Status Ads and Promoted Channels
WhatsApp announced that in-status ads and channels are now available in the “Updates” tab globally.
How it will work
The “Updates” tab now contains two types of sponsored content for all users worldwide:
- In-status ads are business ads that appear after viewing several regular statuses. They can be skipped with a swipe.
- Promoted Channels are channels highlighted in the catalog with the “promoted” label to help users discover new and interesting content.
Ads do not affect personal chats or group calls. Targeting is based on language, country, and ad interactions, but not on the content of the conversation.
Why it’s needed
Monetization of the platform and helping businesses attract audiences. Users can block unwanted advertisers. An optional paid subscription to disable ads is available in Europe (approximately 3-4 euros per month).
Status
The feature has been officially announced and is rolling out globally to all Android and iOS users.
Conclusion
WhatsApp is actively implementing user improvements (message scheduling, design) and complying with local regulatory requirements (India, Brazil). The global launch of advertising marks a new stage in monetization, while maintaining the privacy of messaging.
At GREEN-API, we are monitoring the news and will inform you about all significant updates. We are also constantly working on introducing new features to our service to make your experience more convenient. Follow our blog to stay informed about new and useful features in WhatsApp!