WhatsApp has become an essential in our lives. And why not? Every month new WhatsApp features are rolling in to make the app experience, user interface, and communication better and faster.
Whether they are formatting features, new wallpapers, security features, and more, this space is your guide when it comes to tracking these new WhatsApp features. So, let’s get started:
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New Whatsapp Features In 2024!
WhatsApp has always been developing new features that make its usage convenient. Here are some of the exciting, top, and best WhatsApp features you should know.
1. Two-Step Verification
This is one of the most important new WhatsApp features that you should know about to enhance the security of your account. The 2-Step Verification Feature was recently introduced as a security measure to protect user data from being stolen. It requires users to input a six-digit passcode for further verification.
You must input the passcode when registering on a new device. Enabling the two-step verification feature is a highly recommended feature for better data security.
To enable it
- Go to WhatsApp Settings
- Go to Account
- Tap on 2-Step Verification
- Input and confirm your 6-digit passcode along with a recovery email.
2. Message Editing
Better late than never! WhatsApp has finally introduced the option to edit messages. One can now modify the text without having to delete and send a new message just to correct spelling errors. An important thing to note here is that messages can only be edited within 15 minutes of being sent. Post-editing, the message will be marked as ‘edited’ in the chat.
Press and hold the message you want to edit, tap on the two dots in the top right corner, tap on edit, make the necessary changes required and tap on the send button.
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3. Send HD Quality Photos On WhatsApp
Sharing images with higher quality on WhatsApp has always been an inconvenience, as it usually compresses the images, compromising their clarity. WhatsApp finally provides the option to send pictures in their original size. I’m sure this is one of the best new WhatsApp features you were waiting to know about.
Here’s how you can enable this feature.
- In WhatsApp Settings, Go to Storage And Data
- Tap on Photo Upload Quality
- Tap on Best Quality.
You can also enable this on the upload screen. When you select the photo, WhatsApp shows you some editing options, including the option to enable HD quality for photos.
4. Voice Message Status
WhatsApp Status recently added the option of voice messages. Users can now input voice messages to better express what’s on their minds or how they feel.
Here’s how you can post a voice message on WhatsApp status.
In the WhatsApp status section, tap on the pencil icon. Tap and hold the microphone icon to record a voice message. As of now, WhatsApp voice status has a 30-second time limit.
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5. Companion mode
Here’s a new WhatsApp feature you definitely must know! After a huge demand from consumers and a long wait, WhatsApp has finally introduced Companion Mode.
This feature enables the use of WhatsApp simultaneously with up to four Smartphones. Truly, one of the most convenient new WhatsApp features out there. You can now seamlessly use WhatsApp on Android and iOS devices simultaneously, with chats backed up and updated across the connected devices.
What’s even nicer here is you can avoid the hassle of frequently registering/signing in and out of WhatsApp across the connected devices. This is definitely a new WhatsApp feature worth trying out. This new feature also enables users to use WhatsApp on four iOS devices simultaneously now!
6. Silence Unknown Callers
This is another new WhatsApp feature that has become popular quite recently. Nowadays, scammers with international numbers have found a way to contact users on the instant messaging platform through WhatsApp calls, which has been a major inconvenience to users. In fact, some users have even fallen prey to these scams.
To mitigate this issue, WhatsApp has provided a feature to silence unknown callers which automatically silences calls from unknown dialers.
Here’s how you can enable it and avoid this issue.
- In WhatsApp settings go to privacy.
- Scroll down to ‘Silence Unknown Callers’
- Tap on the same option and enable the toggle for this feature
- Make sure to report the unknown number so that it is completely blocked from WhatsApp
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7. Locked Chats Feature
Having a constant fear of your chats being read by the people around you? Worry not, WhatsApp has now come with its impressive and much-required chat lock feature. This feature in the new WhatsApp features list enables chats you choose only to be accessed via biometrics or a passcode you choose.
You can enable this amazing feature by:
- Select a chat of choice to encrypt with a code/biometric.
- In the chats settings, tap on the Chat Lock option
- Enable the Chat Lock feature by turning on the toggle.
An important thing to mention is that locked chats are hidden by default. In order to access it, swipe down on the main menu and you shall be able to access it.
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8. React To Messages
Whatsapp also introduced the “reaction feature” that allows users to express their sentiments and engage in conversations. With this feature, you can now long press on any text message and react with your favourite emoji, just like Instagram.
To use this new feature:
- Open Whatsapp and head over to any chat in your messaging app.
- Now, long-press on any message, and Whatsapp will display a few basic emojis. You can also add any emoji with the plus sign displayed at the end of the reaction tab.
- Then tap on any of the emoji, and it will appear at the bottom of the message.
The highlight of this feature is that you can change the reaction to a different one at any moment. Additionally, you are also allowed to remove the reaction to a message.
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9. Share With Captions
Similar to when you share pictures or videos, sometimes the things you share, like newspaper articles or work documents, might need a little explanation. Thus, with the new caption feature in the new WhatsApp features list, you can write a short description before sharing these documents, just like adding a caption to a picture. This way, you can give some context or explain your sharing.
You can try out this feature by just sending or forwarding any documents. As you do so, the captions feature will pop up at the bottom of the screen. This new Whatsapp feature allows the user to write a caption or simply forward it as it is.
Furthermore, with this new feature, when you forward media that has a caption, you have the option to keep, delete, or completely rewrite it to give extra information when sharing photos between chats. You can also add a caption to photos and videos when you forward them.
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10. Whatsapp Polls
With the WhatsApp polls feature, any member, including the admin, can create and share a poll in the group to get a definitive answer or to make a solid decision. Once the poll has been created and shared in the group, the group members can choose an option. As the members vote, the poll gets updated automatically.
To create a poll:
- Open any chat tap on the attach icon, and choose the poll option from it.
- Then, enter the question you want to ask via the “Ask Question.”
- Now, enter the options by tapping on the add button.
- Once you are satisfied, tap on the send button and wait for the votes to come in.
However, with the recent updates, you can also create single-vote polls by turning off the multiple answers option when creating a poll. Moreover, you can now also receive notifications when people vote on your polls, so you can easily keep up to date on responses.
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11. Status Link Previews
With the status link preview feature, when you put a link as your status on WhatsApp, the app can now grab a preview image, title and description from the link itself.
This means that when someone clicks on your link, they’ll see a small picture and description that gives them an idea of the link. It’s like a sneak peek that helps them understand what the link is talking about. Surely deserves a spot in the new WhatsApp features list.
12. Status Profile Rings
With the Status Profile rings feature, you can easily catch up on your contact’s statuses from your chat screen. When a contact posts a status, you’ll spot a snazzy green ring around their profile picture.
Just give it a quick tap, and voila! You’ll instantly dive into their status. If you are not able to see this feature, just update your Whatsapp messenger, and you’re good to go.
13. Dedicated Video Recording Mode
Previously, to record a video on WhatsApp, you had to press and hold the shutter button in the camera section. But now, Whatsapp has made it even easier with a special video recording mode. With the latest update, there’s a separate button just for recording videos to capture moments effortlessly. Truly, one of the best new WhatsApp features out there.
14. Whatsapp Community
WhatsApp Communities lets you bring different groups together in one place, making it easier to stay organized. Community admins can send important updates to members, and community members can chat and explore groups that interest them. You can get updates for the whole community and create smaller discussion groups, too.
Plus, community announcement groups keep your phone number private. And remember, your personal messages and calls are super secure with end-to-end encryption. Only you and the person you’re chatting with can read or hear them – not even WhatsApp can.
To create a community group:
- Navigate to the new community option in the app.
- Enter the community name and description, and add a community icon.
- Then tap on add group option to add existing groups or create a new group.
- After completing all these steps, you are good to go with your new community group.
15. Screen Sharing
The list of new WhatsApp features is growing. The new update lets you share your screen during video calls.
The best part is, you can either choose to share your entire screen or just share a single app. This gives users more control over what they share during a video call, hence maintaining privacy while still giving convenience.
16. WhatsApp Meta AI Chat
WhatsApp Meta is finally here to Instagram and WhatsApp both. With this, you can directly use Meta AI within WhatsApp and enhance your productivity. It is one of the most advanced new WhatsApp features out there can take the user experience to the next level.
To enable It:
- Click on the Meta Icon on the Chats Tab.
- Agree to terms and conditions.
- Start Chatting!
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17. WhatsApp New User Interface
One of the most amazing part of the new WhatsApp features is the new User Interface.
This is done for users to navigate easily to the things that matter to them. You can see chats, Updates, Communities, Calls on a single tab now. The placement of the tab is also changed. Earlier, it used to be on the tab but now it’s more closer to the thumb.
Other New Features
Apart from all these big new WhatsApp features, WhatsApp has made detailed changes to the app to add convenience to the user experience. Let’s talk about them:
- You can now share up to 100 media files at once.
- Transferring chats is now easier as you don’t need Google Drive to make it happen. You can do quick share or share the file through Gmail, Discord, Telegram, Bluetooth, and more.
- You can add a new contact directly through WhatsApp. Just go to the contacts window on the app and select new contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new feature of WhatsApp 2024?
In 2024, WhatsApp introduced several new features, including improvements to voice and video calls, Meta AI, new chat themes, and voice message transcripts.
What is the new profile feature on WhatsApp?
The new WhatsApp profile feature lets users generate profile photos using AI. To use it, go to profile settings and either upload a new photo or choose one from your gallery.
What is dp pic in WhatsApp?
In WhatsApp, a “DP” stands for “display picture,” which is also known as a profile picture.
Summary: New WhatsApp Features
In conclusion, I hope you’ve learned all about the new features of WhatsApp mentioned in this article. WhatsApp has been a popular messaging platform for almost a decade now. However, its regular updates and newer features to make it user-compatible impress the audience, causing them to stick with it and maintain healthy competition with other platforms, too.
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glenn noronha
20 year old B.tech Automobile Engineering student at Rustomjee Academy For Global Careers from Mumbai with a passion for writing articles on gadgets and help point users to the right one. Fitness, and music lover.