WhatsApp is rolling out these cool and awaited features for iOS, Android, and desktop/web clients in 2023.
View Once text, picture-in-picture for video calls in iOS devices, Screen lock for WhatsApp desktop clients, search messages by date, calls tab in the desktop client and many more features to be introduced by WhatsApp very soon.
Most of these features are released for some beta testers and will be available to the global audience very soon.
We hope you are having a great start to the new year. 2023 has kicked off and you must have contacted your near and dear ones via WhatsApp. This year, the messaging app from Meta is going to get some cool and much-awaited features. Many of these WhatsApp features have been in testing for some time now soon, they might be available to everyone out there. According to WABetaInfo, here is a list of features that WhatsApp might roll out very soon for its user base:
- Picture-in-picture for video calls in iOS
- View Once text
- Voice notes on WhatsApp status
- Companion Mode
- Search messages by date
- Call tab on WhatsApp Desktop
- Screen Lock for WhatsApp Desktop
Let’s understand each of them in detail:
1. Picture-in-picture for video calls in iOS
The iPhone users were really missing short on the PIP feature when it comes to WhatsApp video calls. This missing feature on iPhones crippled the users as they can't really multitask while being on a video call on WhatsApp. Picture-in-picture was already available for Android users however the wait is finally over. According to a report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp may soon release the PIP feature supporting video calls on iOS devices.
2. View Once text
The View Once text feature, as the name suggests, will help you to share confidential textual information that the receiver can see only once. This will work in a similar fashion to the View Once video and image option WhatsApp rolled out recently.
A small lock sign will appear on the send button which will ensure that the text might be seen only once. It might be an add-on if WhatsApp restricts the receiver from taking screenshots of text marked as “View Once”.
3. Voice notes on WhatsApp status
When the status feature on WhatsApp was initially rolled out, people did not really like it but now everyone loves updating their status in the form of images, videos, and text format. With the increasing trend and popularity of the status feature, Whatsapp is planning to allow its users to upload Voice notes on their status wall.
According to a report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is planning to add voice notes support along with other formats. Users can add voice notes status for up to 30 seconds. Additionally, a voice note shared on the status wall will be called “voice status”
4. Companion Mode
The companion mode simply allows users to link their existing WhatsApp account with a secondary or new mobile phone. Users can link up to 4 devices and the chat history will be synced across all devices. It is important to note that the calls and messages in Companion mode are still end-to-end encrypted. The companion mode is available to some beta testers, and Whatsapp is planning to launch this new feature to its global audience very soon.
5. Search messages by date
WhatsApp was already planning to release this feature for the public two years ago but the development of this feature was dropped due to unknown reasons. According to a report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is finally releasing this feature that allows its users to search their messages by date.
The screenshot above from WABetaInfo shows a calendar icon while searching messages in a conversation, by using it, users can directly jump to that particular date and read those messages.
6. Calls tab on WhatsApp desktop
Another missing feature in WhatsApp was an option to sync their audio and video call history with the dedicated WhatsApp for Windows app.
According to a report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp might roll out a feature adding the calls tab to its desktop app. Using this feature, users will be able to manage and sync their audio and video calls between their phones and the desktop app.
7. Screen Lock for WhatsApp Desktop
In order to prevent unauthorized access, WhatsApp introduced the screen lock feature for iOS and Android devices 3 years ago. This feature was limited to mobile phones as it was unavailable for desktop/web clients.
According to a report from WABetaInfo, the lock screen feature is made available to only some users in beta and WhatsApp is planning to introduce it to the public. Additionally, WhatsApp might allow Mac users to unlock the app using the fingerprint sensor.
Follow Us
Ankesh Pawan Pandey
Ankesh Pandey is a BSc in Information Technology and loves programming and coding. At Digit, he works as a reviewer where he is mostly involved with testing laptops and creating videos for Digit’s Instagram page. View Full Profile
