New WhatsApp Features Added in November 2024

Dec. 3, 2024

Here I have listed all the new WhatsApp features that are available for everyone, even those who are not a part of the Beta program. If you haven’t received them on your device then I recommend you update the app now.

1. Transcribe Voice Messages

WhatsApp has added the ability to transcribe voice messages that you have received. This allows you toread the contents of a voice noteif you are unable to hear the message itself. The feature was previously seen in Beta, but it’s now slowly rolling out for everyone on Android and iPhones.

This month we also saw the company doing away with its iconicTyping…indicator and replacing it with a new modern one which we see in other apps like Instagram, or iMessage. It pops up when the other person is typing, and it looks visually more appealing since it is animated.

Another new change coming for everyone is Status Update Reminders. It will send yourandom alerts for status updatesof your favorite contacts. This is pretty similar to how Instagram will notify you when one of your friends uploads a story. You can obviously turn it off anytime from Notification settings.

Message Draft is another feature that was previously available in beta but now rolling out for everyone. It shows yourunsent message as a draft, making it easier to spot them from your chat list and continue the conversation where you left off. We first saw this featureback in September, and I am glad that it’s now available for everyone.

You can also nowadd captions to the GIFsbefore sending them, making it more fun to use them before. This is a pretty minor feature, as it went under the radar even for me, but I am sure people who often use GIFs on WhatsApp will definitely appreciate it.

Here we have discussed all those WhatsApp features that are currently under testing and will roll out to everyone at a later date.

To make it easier for you to access your media files in a chat, WhatsApp is experimenting with anew image gallery shortcutin the chat window. It will appear next to the attachment icon and will allow you to jump into your image folder directly. While it is handy, I feel it will clutter the typing space, unless WhatsApp allows you to choose whether you want to keep it or not.

In an attempt to make draw further engagement to their status updates feature, WhatsApp is now borrowingInstagram’s Add Yours sticker. This interactive stickerallows others to share statusupdates upon tapping the sticker creating a chain. Instagram’s version shows you who started this chain and also lets you view what others have shared which doesn’t seem to be the case here. It is still in its early stages and I hope that it lands on our apps soon.

Currently, those who don’t have a profile photo will appear as a gray contact icon. This is the same for everyone, which sometimes makes it difficult to differentiate between chats. That could be why WhatsApp is working on themed contact icons, which will assign differentcolored contact icons, making them stand apart from each other.

We already know that some emojis on the app have an animation, but it seems like WhatsApp is furtherexpanding it to the message reactionsfeature. Some beta testers spotted this feature, where reacting to a message with Party Popper, Partying Face, and Confetti Ball emojis, triggers a festive confetti-like animation. This is probably in preparation for the upcoming New Year, but I hope more emojis get added to this list later on.

Meta AI has received numerous updates since its release on the app, and it still has a long way to go. We previously discussed that the coming is working on a one on onevoice chat featurefor the AI, but now we get a glimpse of what its new dedicated screen will look like. As you can see, it looks similar to ChatGPT’s voice chat screen, with an option to either talk or type your message.

WhatsApp has also revamped its call info screen, where now it shows abigger profile banner, and shortcutsfor audio or video calls, and even message the person directly. It will also group together call logs for a single contact decluttering your call page. You can take a look at the old and the new call info page above.

Last month, WhatsApp officially rolled out thementions feature in status updatesfor everyone. But it only lets you select individual contacts, that too up to 5 only. But now, the app is testing the ability to mention a group as well. This will alert every member of said group when you tag them in your updates, indirectly allowing you tomention a large circle of friends.

We often forward message to multiple individuals but if let’s say you want to add a message along with the forwarded content then you will have to do it one by one for each person you are forwarding to. To remedy this, WhatsApp will introduce the ability toattach a custom message, making it more convenient to share forwards.

So that wraps up this month’s WhatsApp feature list. I am actually quite surprised how many new features made their way to the stable release, and I can’t wait for the features that are in beta to arrive for everyone. Let us know which one of these features you want to see arrive on WhatsApp in the comments below.

As a tech journalist, I dive into the ever-evolving tech landscape with a particular interest for smartphones, apps, and gaming. With a passion for sharing insights, my articles blend expertise with a friendly touch—think of me as your friendly neighborhood tech support.