- WhatsApp added several new features and teased upcoming features over the course of June.
- Some of the highlights include improvements to voice and video calling, Meta AI, chat themes, and voice message transcripts.
- certain features have already arrived for stable users of the app, while others are limited to the Beta version available through Google Play Store and iOS App Store.
With the month of June comes a fresh wave of features to the ever-popular messaging app. From Meta AI being available for everyone to improved calling experience, WhatsApp is constantly improving and innovating to keep your user experience smooth and engaging. So without any further delay, let’s check out all the new WhatsApp features that arrived in June 2024.
Some features discussed here are still under development and might take a while before they arrive. We have divided the list into two categories and labeled them “upcoming features”.
WhatsApp Features Added in June 2024 (Stable)
1. Meta Verified Badges for Businesses
Some businesses on WhatsApp will now have the Meta Verified badge under their name. This indicates that the business is registered with Meta and is legitimate. Registering with Meta will also prevent it from being impersonated. Businesses will benefit from better technical support from Meta and the ability to use the same account on different devices.
Users will benefit from a tap call to directly reach out to the business and connect with them for intricate or immediate queries if required. These features are rolling out in Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Colombia. They should be available for some businesses already.
2. Meta AI on WhatsApp
We are also seeing the wide release of Meta AI on WhatsApp along with other Meta-owned apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. The generative AI chatbot was previously available to a limited number of users. Now it is rolling out for everyone across various countries around the globe.
Meta AI is based on the Llama model and you can access it using the floating action button or the search bar at the top. You can chat with it, bring it up in an ongoing WhatsApp conversation or use it to generate images completely for free. We’ve shared our experience with Meta AI on WhatsApp.
3. Favorites Filter for Chats on iPhone
The iOS version of the app has added a Favorites filter for the chats section. This will let you mark certain chats as Favorites and then you can jump to that section quickly using the filter. It works similarly to other filters on the app. The filter is already rolling out to Android users but is now, also available on iOS. You should get this feature over the coming weeks.
4. Improved Voice and Video Calling
This month, the app also introduced new features to improve the voice and video calling experience for users. First, you can include audio when screen sharing during video calls which is great for watching content with your friends or presentations.
You can also include up to 32 people in a group video call session. The app also launched MLow codec which should improve voice call quality in poor network or high-traffic areas. Users with a good internet connection will be able to enjoy high-quality video calls. You can read more about these features in our full coverage.
5. Media Quality Selection
After a while now, iPhone users are getting the media quality selection option in WhatsApp. Android users have had it for a while now in the stable release. In case you don’t know about this feature, it lets you choose between SD (Standard Definition) which is lower in quality for a smaller file size of HD (High Definition) which has the original higher file size.
Upcoming WhatsApp Features Added in June 2024 (Beta)
6. Resdesigned Calling Interface (Android)
The beginning of the month saw the redesign of the calling interface. Some WhatsApp Beta users on Android received a condensed bottom bar for the voice call UI. As you can see, the icons are tightly packed, and the profile picture appears larger than before. This redesign is still in Beta and come to stable soon.
7. Share Status Updates from WhatsApp (macOS)
The latest WhatsApp Beta for macOS allows you to upload status updates directly from your Mac. Currently, you cannot post status updates from linked devices including the web and desktop version of the app. So this will be a major shift and should come in handy for a lot of users who wish to post status updates right from their PCs.
8. Age Confirmation in WhatsApp (Android)
Certain U.S. states like Texas have recently ruled out legislation that makes it mandatory for online services to verify the age of their users. WhatsApp is working on an age verification feature that will ask users to enter their correct age when setting up the app. Once entered, it cannot be changed later. This feature will be rolled out to users in certain regions this year.
9. New Changes Coming to WhatsApp Status
Like always, WhatsApp is adding improvements and new features to status updates. The first one is the ability to rank status, based on the person you interact with most, whose chats you have pinned to the top, and recent chats. You can read more about it in this article by WABetaInfo.
They’re also working on changing the UI of how you can reply to other’s status updates. Last month, we saw an option to react to status with emojis. Now we see a new reply option on the right side replacing the text box. This way users can choose how they want to react to a status.
10. Cover Photos For Events (Android)
WhatsApp is also building upon the events feature we covered previously on the app. Now they are adding the ability to add a cover photo for an event. This will allow event creators to add a visually engaging image to promote the event among community members.
11. Pin Channels on WhatsApp (Android)
To make it easier to keep up with your favorite channels, WhatsApp is working on the ability to pin up to two channels to the top of the section. This work will work similarly to pinning chats, making it easier to check for the latest updates whenever you switch to the channels tab.
12. Transfer Chat History via QR Code (Android)
Transferring your data from your old phone to a new one requires you to have a Google Drive backup of your chats. In case of transferring it from Android to iOS or vice versa demands the use of a USB cable. However, the app is planning to change that with a new implementation where you can scan a QR code with your new phone to transfer chat history wirelessly without any backup.
This feature is still under development and might be released in a later version of the app.
13. Language Selection for Voice Transcripts (Android)
WhatsApp is currently working on a feature to transcribe voice messages that will be released sometime later. In a new beta, it was discovered that they are also adding the ability to choose the language for transcripts. From the screenshots, you can see the different language options you can choose from. Once selected, a package for the language will be downloaded for transcription.
14. Toggle for Sticker Suggestions (Android)
In the previous May updates list, we discussed a revamp stickers tray in WhatsApp. Now the app is adding a toggle to enable or disable sticker suggestions in chat settings as found in a beta update. This will let you enable sticker suggestions that will show you stickers that you can send depending on the message or the emoji you type on the keyboard. Disabling will remove suggestions entirely.
15. More Chat Theming Options (iOS)
Last month, we got a glimpse of various colored chat themes coming to WhatsApp in an iOS Beta. chat theming Now, we get to see more different colored options for your chat screen. This will be a departure from the typical green theme we have seen from the beginning and add more colors to your WhatsApp chats. However, there is no word on when this feature will be available to users.
16. Privacy Checkup in Settings (Android)
In another Beta update for Android, we saw that WhatsApp has added a new Privacy Checkup option within the Privacy settings on the app. This option will let you manage and control your privacy on the app according to your preferences. However, it is not known when this feature will become available to users.
17. AR Effects in Video Calls (Android)
In an attempt to further improve their video calling experience, WhatsApp is bringing AR effects to the app. These effects will help give your face a touch-up if required, add different backgrounds as we have seen in Google Meet, and utilize Avatars for video calling. The AR background effects will also come to the desktop app. These features are in early development and there is no confirmation when they will be available.
18. In-App Dialer (Android)
In another Beta update for Android, WhatsApp added an in-app dialer in the calling section of the app. It is accessible through a floating action button that lets you quickly dial numbers without adding them to your contacts first. This will also let you directly call them without entering the chat. It is only available to a limited number of WhatsApp Beta users as of now.
19. Quick Reply to Video Messages (Android)
Video Messages is a feature that lets you record a quick message and share it in the chat. This is available to all users but remains an underrated feature on the app. In a recent beta, we saw that WhatsApp has added a quick reply option next to the video message preview on the app. Using this, users can reply by recording a short video message making the interaction more fun.
20. Choose Meta AI Model (Android)
Meta AI is rolling out for everyone on WhatsApp in different countries allowing you to chat with the AI-powered bot. Since Meta AI is based on the Llama engine, WhatsApp will add a feature to let you switch between different versions of it.
You can pick between the default Llama 70B or the advanced Llama 405B model which is useful for more complex interactions. Note that, you can only use Llama 405B for limited prompts in a week. After that, you can continue using the default model.
21. New Media Sharing Layout for Status (iOS)
In the latest test flight build for WhatsApp, we get to see a new media-sharing layout for status updates. Here you can quickly switch between the photo, video, and text formats on the app. There is also a mic button on the right so you can upload a voice note if you want to.
22. Communities Tab on iPad (iOS)
Communities tab which is currently unavailable on the iPad version of WhatsApp since it is considered a linked device, is finally being added as discovered in a beta build of the app. The layout remains similar to the iPhone version of WhatsApp with the Communities tab taking the center space on the bottom bar. This should be released in the stable version pretty soon.
These are all the new and upcoming features that came to WhatsApp in June 2024. I am honestly pretty excited about the chat theming and changes to status updates myself. That’s it for this month then, we’ll meet you again with a recap of all the features introduced in July. Do tell us which feature you are most excited about in the comments below.
