Status takes center stage: New WhatsApp beta brings major interface redesign

As reported by WABetaInfo on February 14, 2026, status updates may soon move beyond the separate “Updates” tab and appear directly within the “Chats” section. Currently, users are notified of a new status by a green ring around a contact’s profile picture. To view the update, they can tap the profile picture or switch to the “Updates” tab, where all recent updates are displayed in one place.

In WhatsApp beta 2.26.6.9, contacts with a recent status update appear at the top of the “Chats” tab – almost as if they had sent a new message. Their profile pictures remain highlighted. As users scroll through their conversations, a swipeable status bar comes into view. Status updates from muted contacts, however, are not shown in this area. So far, the feature has only been spotted in the Android beta and has not yet been confirmed for iOS.

Critics warn that the change could make WhatsApp feel less streamlined and push it further toward a social media model. There is also speculation that the more prominent placement of status updates may be linked to Meta’s broader monetization strategy. The status section is seen as a potential space for advertising, while traditional banner ads within the chat interface have so far remained off limits. Since the feature is still in beta, it remains unclear whether it will be introduced in this form in the stable release. An official rollout has yet to be confirmed.