WhatsApp Beta Code Introduces Android Chat Previews
WhatsApp is developing a chat preview feature for Android that lets users read incoming messages without triggering the blue read receipts, according to Android Authority. The code was discovered in the Android beta version 2.26.44.12 by the technology publication Android Authority, which managed to activate the functionality ahead of a public release. By performing a long press on a conversation within the app, users trigger a floating card showing the most recent messages. Because the chat interface itself does not open, the sender continues to see only the single gray check or delivered status rather than the double blue check. Previously in Android, reading messages without sending a read receipt was only possible by using a home screen widget. Until now, a long press on Android only selected the conversation and displayed a top bar with a few options, while other choices like adding to favorites or blocking remained inside the three-dot menu.
Android Previews Allow Scrolling While iOS Windows Do Not
The new Android implementation introduces a key functionality that sets it apart from the existing iOS version. While iPhone users have had access to chat previews via a long press for some time, iOS windows do not support scrolling, meaning long messages or busy chats cannot be read in full. The Android beta version allows users to scroll up within the preview card itself. Testing by Android Authority confirmed that this scrolling action does not generate read receipts for any of the messages visible in the preview pane. Beneath the preview card, a redesigned contextual menu aggregates quick actions. Users can select messages, mark them as unread, pin chats, archive them, or delete them. Pressing a “More options” button expands this contextual menu to reveal additional choices, allowing users to mute notifications, block the chat, add it to a list, view the contact, and create a desktop shortcut for the chat.
Hidden Tools Emerge in Android Betas
The preview function remains under development and is not yet available to public beta testers. WhatsApp has not announced an official release date for the stable version. Alongside the chat preview feature, recent Android beta builds have hidden several other tools in development. These include playback speed controls for Status updates reaching 2x, new stickers featuring both images and sound, a dedicated contacts tab highlighting birthdays, and support for placing WhatsApp calls to individuals who do not use the app, Android Authority noted.
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