Year Ender 2025: WhatsApp Features Coming in 2026

WhatsApp may have launched a new feature in 2025, but the Meta-owned chat site is showing no signs of slowing down. After a number of updates to chats, calls, privacy controls, device support and AI-powered tools, WhatsApp is expected to revamp security options, add support for usernames as WhatsApp continues to evolve into ‘a central communication platform that has more than 3 billion users on its own; the focus now shifts towards Meta’s new features. We should look back to 2026 and see what features are already forming the scenes of .

WhatsApp Updates and Features Users Can Expect in 2026

Many of these additions are now in beta versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS, giving early clues to the direction of the platform as it aims towards the next year. They come together to reveal a clear pattern of . WhatsApp has been following the trend of ‘deep AI integration, stronger identity and security controls, more flexible storage management and smarter group communication tools’ as well as deeper AI-based technologies. While some of these features are designed to simplify everyday life, other people give users more control over privacy, safety and self-expression.

But now we don’t know if these features will be available in 2026 to users as some features take a little longer to develop and test than other features. They are also a beta update to their latest version of WhatsApp, which gives ‘an accurate preview of what WhatsApp users can realistically expect in 2026’. The most notable new features are smashed down below, explain what they do, who is meant for and where they stand in terms of rollout now.

AI-Powered Imagine Tools for Status Updates

WhatsApp’s new AI-powered Imagine tools could dramatically change how you share visual stories if you like posting status updates and often have limited filters. This allows you to convert photos without leaving the app, and add Meta AI directly into the status editor. Rather than using external editing apps, you can use AI-generated styles, create complete pictures by text prompts and erase objects (not just images), improve details or even make static photos into short visuals.

The most notable is that this has already been tested for the same creative tools on Android, which tests them for iPhone users. But WhatsApp seems to be closing that gap by implementing these capabilities through iOS beta updates. Rather than simply overlaying over the top, styles are actually regenerating images; so you can repeat that style several times until it matches your mood and want to be in one of the same styles. Over time this may make WhatsApp Status a more expressive, creative place than just ‘the spot for posting instant updates’.

Username Reservation

WhatsApp is coming up with usernames and the app could allow users to reserve username in advance. This update is designed to solve that problem if you have ever worried about losing a preferred name when ‘a feature launches globally’. Once enabled, users can claim a unique username early (which will later be their permanent ID when the system officially rolls out).

This feature has not yet been developed but is in recent beta builds, meaning WhatsApp is actively preparing the infrastructure. In order to avoid impersonation, confusion with websites or misuse of usernames, users will follow strict rules that prevent the use of usernames. Eventually, usernames could reduce the need to share phone numbers in some cases for users who value privacy. Although no official date has yet been confirmed, the reservation system hints that WhatsApp will be “avoidable of chaos and conflicts when usernames finally go live in 2026” (in which it is known as an unconfirmed one-year-old) and clashes.

Advanced Chat Clearing Tool

This is one of the most useful chat-clearing tools to look forward for upcoming chats, especially if your WhatsApp storage keeps filling up. If you accidentally delete all conversations, WhatsApp will let you choose exactly what to remove. Whether you delete messages, starred content or certain media types such as videos, photos and documents (voice notes) or stickers?

The option also displays the amount of storage that will be freed before you confirm deletion, allowing you to make informed decisions. Especially for large group discussions where media accumulates up over time, this is especially useful. WhatsApp, in particular, adds extra protection for starred messages so that you do not accidentally delete content you meant to keep on your list. This tool has already been rolled out to iOS beta users and mirrors similar functionality on Android, so storage management is far more transparent and user-friendly.

Strict Account Security Settings

The strict account security mode of WhatsApp offers a powerful safety net for users concerned about scams, accounts taken over or unwanted contact. This lets WhatsApp’s most powerful safeguardings be bundled into one switch instead of manuallyggling multiple privacy options, rather than toggling several privacy settings. Upon its activation, it blocks media from unknown senders, silences calls from stranger numbers, limits group invite to be invited, restrict profile visibility and enforces two-step verification.

Is this a useful mode when you are subject to targeted attacks or often receive frequent spam? Most users may never need such extreme protection, but WhatsApp is more adapted to various risk levels with the option available. This is now available to beta testers on Android and iOS, and it only works from the main device (retaining control firmly in the user’s hands).

Mention All Members in Group Chats

When important messages are buried, it can be chaotic to manage group conversations. WhatsApp has a new @all mention option to fix that by allowing users to notify everyone in ‘groups of people with one tag. Any member of it can be used in smaller groups, so coordination is easier for families, teams or study groups (e.g.

WhatsApp limits this ability to admins only as per the permission of a larger group and community chatter in large groups. Hence, it avoids overuse and misuse of notification while keeping the key messages in our hands when we need them to be critical. WhatsApp is trying to balance openness with moderation by adjusting the rules according to group size. This is now rolled out to Android beta users and will likely expand further in 2026, which means group communication becomes more organized (and effective) with the feature.