I’m a WhatsApp sleuth – here are NINE top-secret changes coming to the app

WHATSAPP sleuths have uncovered top-secret new features coming to the app.

The wildly popular chat app regularly adds new tricks – but they all go through testing first.

These tests take place in the beta version of WhatsApp.

And fairly regularly, the tech experts at will uncover features that are “under development” in the WhatsApp beta app.

Now WABetaInfo has found nine different features, some of which are public, others in testing, and a few that are under development.

There’s no telling exactly when all of the features will arrive.

But even the fact that WhatsApp is working on these features is a good sign.

New features for WhatsApp

Here’s what WABetaInfo uncovered…

• A setting to approve new group participants
• An updated version of message reactions using any emoji skin tone on Windows
• The ability to view past participants
• Blocking of View Once text screenshots
• Hiding your online status on WhatsApp
• A Communities tab that will allow groups within groups
• Larger animated heart emojis on Android
• Avatar profile photos for WhatsApp
• The ability to silently leave WhatsApp groups

Several of these features are coming very soon, including hiding your online status and silently leaving WhatsApp groups.

But others could take weeks or months to arrive.

If you want to try the latest WhatsApp features first, follow our guide on joining the beta below.

How to join WhatsApp beta

To download WhatsApp beta for your smartphone you need to go to Google Play on your Android and search for WhatsApp.

Scroll down the page until you see “Become a Beta Tester”.

Tap the “I’m In” button and then click “Join” to confirm.

Now all you have to do is wait for the update to the beta version of the app.

Joining the WhatsApp beta on iPhone is more difficult, and has limited capacity.

Follow Apple’s guide .

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