WhatsApp is testing a redesigned user interface that integrates Channels and Status updates directly into the primary chat list, potentially eliminating the separate “Updates” tab.
Android Beta tests three layout options
The current testing phase on Android allows users to choose how subscribed Channels appear in their inbox. These changes are currently limited to Android; the iOS version remains in an early development stage and is not yet available for beta testing.
Contacts tab could replace Updates
If the integration of Channels into the chat list becomes permanent, WhatsApp may replace the existing “Updates” tab with a new “Contacts” tab. This proposed section would focus specifically on active contacts to simplify direct communication. Parallel to this structural shift, WhatsApp is testing “Channel Status,” a feature allowing photos and videos in Channels to disappear after 24 hours, mirroring the functionality of personal Status updates.
Privacy differences in Broadcast systems
The shift toward deeper Channel integration comes as Meta reports that 1.5 billion people used the Updates tab daily in 2025, including both Status updates and Channel interactions. However, these broadcast systems operate under different security protocols than private messaging. While individual and group chats use end-to-end encryption, Channel updates do not. The company also stores Channel histories on its servers for up to 30 days.
WhatsApp Interface Questions
Will these changes happen on iPhone immediately?
No. Reports indicate the iOS version is in an early development stage and the features are not yet accessible to Apple beta testers.
Are Channel messages as secure as private chats?
No. Unlike private and group messages, Channel updates are not end-to-end encrypted and are stored on Meta servers for up to 30 days.
Can I choose how Channels look in my chat list?
In the Android Beta version 2.26.39.1, WhatsApp is testing three different display options, including the ability to archive Channels automatically.
WhatsApp has not yet communicated an official release date or confirmed the final design for the general public.
Worth a look