Check out the new updates available on WhatsApp. See what the app has brought to iPhone users.
In a new version released this Tuesday, the beta version of WhatsApp for iOS now has the ability to search for channels in the Updates tab. According to WABetaInfo, this new feature is available in version 23.21.1.72 and was released for Android some time ago.
As you’ll see in the app, the WhatsApp search bar on iOS will be pinned to the top, and users will be able to search for any channel, whether it’s a followed channel or a new option. Check out more information about the update below.
Channels on iOS
Another important improvement to this search bar is that users can now also search for status updates from specific friends, as these channels have a “cluttered” interface. Based on user feedback, WhatsApp should not recommend channels on this page.
The new feature is currently only available to beta users, but a stable version of the app could be available soon. On another front, WhatsApp is also testing a new message search option, as well as password-protected folders specifically.
Specific password for WhatsApp
In addition to continuing to receive minor interface tweaks, WhatsApp beta now also benefits from an additional layer of security for a new function which allows you to save conversations in a kind of “secure folder”.
According to information from WABetaInfo, version 2.23.21.8 released on the Play Store now allows you to set a unique password for this folder, making things even more private. In fact, when Mark Zuckerberg announced this news, the password for the protected folder was the same as the smartphone's. In other words, something that would make this information more accessible to whoever has it.
The new feature is currently only available to a limited number of users in the beta program on Android. However, by offering the option to set your own password for the protected folder, WhatsApp is making the feature much more attractive and secure. This means that even if someone gains access to your device’s password, they won’t automatically have access to your protected chat folder.
Hide usernames
On another front, WhatsApp has also tested the ability to use usernames to hide phone numbers. As with other social networks, WhatsApp will soon allow you to choose your username within the app. In other words, something similar to what happened on competitor Telegram.
In iOS beta version 23.20.1.71, the folks at WABetaInfo discovered that the option to set a username is now available in the app's settings. Another important detail of this update is that usernames will always be optional, but whoever chooses their username will have their phone number hidden in group chats.
By allowing users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers, WhatsApp is expected to eventually maintain a higher level of security for users’ information, especially when interacting with new contacts and in group chats. The new feature is currently still in testing, but will soon be available to everyone on the stable channel. On the other end of the spectrum, WhatsApp has also been testing ephemeral messages and even an option to make it easier to search for messages. your channels.
