WhatsApp rolls out new features for Chats, Calls, and Channels

Updated on 10-Apr-2025
HIGHLIGHTS

Group chats now show live online indicators and highlight notifications for mentions and replies.

iPhone users can scan documents directly in-app and set WhatsApp as the default messaging app.

Channel admins can share video notes, get voice message transcripts, and use QR codes for easier sharing.

WhatsApp is now stepping up its game once again with a fresh wave of new features. Just like everytime, the platform, with these new features, promises to enhance user experience. Taking to a blog post, the Meta-owned messaging giant has introduced a host of new tools and improvements spanning group chats, calls, and channels, all designed to help users communicate more efficiently and stay more connected than ever. Here’s a quick look at what’s new on the application. 

Group and individual chats

The group chats now display a live ‘Online indicator’ that shows the number of active members, which makes it simpler to start conversations in real-time. Users can filter group notifications by using a new ‘Notify for’ highlights setting that only alerts them for messages, replies, or mentions from contacts they have saved.

Users can now create events in one-on-one chats, RSVP as ‘maybe,’ invite a plus one, set an event end time, and even pin events within the chat thanks to the expansion of the Events feature. Users can now quickly add an emoji to expressive replies by tapping an existing one in tappable reactions.

WhatsApp adds document scanning to iPhones, enabling users to send, crop, and scan documents right within the app. Additionally, WhatsApp can now be configured in system settings to be the default messaging and calling app on iPhones.

Call features

The tech giant also introduced new features for the calls. The users will be able to use the pinch-to-zoom feature. Using a new shortcut, they can also allow users to add participants to an ongoing call directly from chat. 

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The company has also improved bandwidth detection and routing optimization which means the users will get better video call quality, fewer dropped calls, faster upgrades to HD video.

Channel features

Channel admins will now be able to allow admins to instantly share quick updates with followers, while voice message transcripts provide a text alternative when listening isn’t an option. 

Admins also benefit from a unique QR code feature that links directly to their channel, simplifying sharing and helping grow their audience.

Ashish Singh

Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek.

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