WhatsApp appears to be introducing a new visual indicator that shows when a contact is online, according to WaBetaInfo.
The feature adds a small green circle to a contact’s profile photo when they’re active in the app, and which disappears the moment they leave, all updated in real time. The indicator is now being tested for the WhatsApp iPhone app in TestFlight after it debuted on Android last month.
As it currently works, the dot only surfaces in the chat info screen (the page that opens when you tap a contact’s name at the top of a conversation). It doesn’t yet appear in the chat list or the conversation view itself, but that could change in the future.
The change appears to stick to WhatsApp’s existing privacy rules, so if someone has specifically chosen to hide their last seen and online status, the green dot won’t show up for them.
Green dot for online contacts shown (image: WaBetaInfo)
The indicator is live in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.26.10.72. WABetaInfo reports that it’s available to some beta testers now, with a wider beta rollout expected over the coming weeks. There’s no word yet on when the green dot will reach the stable version for everyone, though.
Popular Stories
These Older iPhones Will Need an Update to Keep Running WhatsApp
Some older iPhone models will need a software update to keep running WhatsApp from the end of November 2026, after Meta confirmed it is raising the app’s minimum system requirements. From November 30, WhatsApp will require iOS 15.5 or later, up from the current requirement of iOS 15.1. The models affected are the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 7, and iPhone…
WhatsApp Working on View-Once Text Messages for iPhone
WhatsApp is working on a way to let users send text messages that can only be viewed once, similar to the feature already available for photos, videos, and voice notes. According to WABetaInfo, after typing a message in the chat bar, users will be able to select a new “Send as view once” option by long-pressing the Send button. When the message is sent, the recipient will be able to open the …
WhatsApp Now Lets You Reserve a Username
Popular messaging app WhatsApp is now allowing users to reserve usernames ahead of plans to launch username-based messaging. Right now, WhatsApp uses a person’s phone number as an identifier, but usernames will allow people to interact without having to exchange personal information. Username reservations are rolling out starting this week, and not all users will have access to the…