WhatsApp is adding a small green dot to indicate when contacts are currently online. As with other social platforms, this indicator could help users better understand when a contact is online and active on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp has released a new TestFlight on iOS following the beta 2.26.24.5 update on Android. This beta software adds the green dot indicator to contacts. Prior to introducing this new feature, WhatsApp displayed only an ‘Online’ status indicator under a contact’s name in the thread. The green dot, as reported by WaBetaInfo, replaces this and makes it easier for users to see who’s online.
The green dot appears when viewing the chat info screen. This menu is available when you tap on the contact’s name within a conversation thread. The report states that WhatsApp currently doesn’t display the online status indicator in the chat list or in the conversation view. That could, of course, change when the feature is released to a wider user base.
The report also suggests that WhatsApp is developing a Contacts menu for iOS and Android versions. Within this, users may see a dedicated tab to show all contacts who are online or recently active on WhatsApp.
If a user chooses to hide their online status, the green dot won’t appear within the chat info screen. This privacy option is now available, allowing users to hide their ‘Online’ status while they are actively using WhatsApp.
The TestFlight is a part of the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.26.10.72. It’s currently available to some beta testers. A wider beta rollout is expected to arrive over the next few weeks. However, the report doesn’t indicate when a wider release of the feature may arrive.
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