WhatsApp Tests Online Indicator
WhatsApp introduces a green dot to show when contacts are online, currently in beta for iOS and Android, with a wider rollout expected soon.
Key points
- WhatsApp is testing a new online indicator, a small green circle, for contacts in the chat info screen.
- The feature is currently available in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.26.10.72 and debuted on Android last month.
- The indicator respects existing privacy rules, not showing for users who have chosen to hide their online status.
- A wider beta rollout is expected over the coming weeks, with no confirmed date for the stable version release.
- The change comes as Meta raises the app's minimum system requirement, affecting older iPhone models from November 2026.
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Meta, is introducing a new feature to indicate when contacts are online. The feature, currently in beta for iOS and Android, adds a small green circle to a contact's profile photo when they are active in the app. This indicator is updated in real-time and disappears when the contact leaves the app.
The online indicator is part of WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to enhance user experience. It is currently available in the chat info screen, which appears when a user taps a contact's name at the top of a conversation. Although it does not yet appear in the chat list or conversation view, this may change in future updates.
The introduction of the online indicator has sparked interest among users, with some welcoming the added functionality and others raising concerns about privacy. WhatsApp has addressed these concerns by ensuring the feature respects existing privacy rules. If a user has chosen to hide their last seen and online status, the green dot will not appear for them.
As WhatsApp continues to evolve, the company is also raising the app's minimum system requirement. This change will affect older iPhone models, which will need a software update to keep running WhatsApp from the end of November 2026. With these updates, WhatsApp aims to provide a more seamless and engaging experience for its users.
Sources
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