WhatsApp has changed a lot since I started using it a decade ago. With the number of features they release every month, I don’t think it will be recognized in the next year or two. But we’re also in the queue, keeping you updated on all the new features added to our favorite messaging app every month. So here is a list of all the new features added to WhatsApp in October 2024.

New WhatsApp Features Added in October 2024 (Stable)

Here is a list of all the new features added to WhatsApp in the month of October. They should be available for use on WhatsApp for Android, iPhone and Web. If you haven’t received these features, update the app to the latest version.

1. Private mentions in status updates

• Available on Android and iPhone

With private mentions, you can secretly tag someone in whatsapp statussimilar to how you would do it on Instagram. Only the mentioned person will know about it. They may even redistribute your status as their own. The feature has been in beta for a few months, but is now rolling out to everyone. See Us Private mentions guide to learn how to use this feature.

2. Create a custom contact list

You can already sort between all, group and favorite chats on WhatsApp. But now, you can create one personalized contact listsay, for all your office friends, so you don’t have to scroll through your old chats to find them. This will work easier to sort your contacts and find them when needed.

3. Filters for photo and video calls

• Available on Android and iPhone

WhatsApp is also introduced background effects and filters similar to what we’ve seen in Google Meet and Zoom. It will allow you blur the backgroundgive your face a quick touch-up or adjust the flash. It will work while clicking a photo in a chat or during a video call.

Additionally, it’s being pushed out slowly in phases as some of our devices received it but others didn’t. If you don’t want to use them, then you can disable these filters in the app’s privacy settings.

4. New camera zoom controls

• Available on Android and iPhone

To make it easier for you to take photos and quickly upload them to WhatsApp, the meta-owned platform has launched improved viewfinder zoom controls in the app for both Android and iOS. Using this, you can quickly jump between them ultrawide, wide and zoomed ways. Or you can use the slider to zoom in or out.

Previously you had to pinch to zoom, but this makes things more one-handed friendly. One interesting thing I noticed is that while the default camera app on the iPhone 13 only lets me zoom in 5x, the WhatsApp zoom controls let me go up to 10x.

WhatsApp Features Coming in October 2024 (Beta)

These features are under development and should be available if you have the beta version of WhatsApp installed on your device. If not, they will come to your device sometime later.

5. React with recently used emojis

• Testing on Android and iPhone

When you long press on a message, it displays a reaction tray with six default emojis. WhatsApp extends this feature by letting you scroll through the reaction tray to access more emojis. It will also show recently used emojis so you don’t have to search for them. This will make interactions more fun and engaging in the app. I know I will make the most of this feature.

6. Redesigned typing indicator

• Testing on Android and iPhone

WhatsApps “Typing…” the indicator has become quite iconic among regular users of the app. However, it will be replaced by a more modern real-time typing indicator. Similar to what you may have seen in iMessage, Google Messages or Facebook Messenger. I’ve had this feature for over a week, but my eyes still crawl up to check the old-school indicator out of habit.

7. Manage group notifications

If you’re part of a WhatsApp family group, you may have already muted it to avoid the daily barrage of Good morning messages. However, turning off all notifications may cause you to miss some relevant messages.

This is why WhatsApp adds an Activity option in group notification settings. From here, I can choose to either receive “All” messages, or just the ones “Relevant to me”, such as when someone mentions me or replies to my message.

8. Sync your WhatsApp contacts

• Testing on Android and iPhone

WhatsApp will soon allow you to save contacts in the app itself. You can synchronization of contacts from connected devices and you can choose whether you want to save them in your contacts or limit them to the app. Saved contacts will sync with your WhatsApp accountso you can restore them on any device.

9. Search the web

WhatsApp has been fighting to reduce fake news and scams for years and has rolled out several features to counter them. The company is now working on a new solution that allows you to search the web for an image directly from the app using Google Lens. reverse image search characteristic. This will help people quickly find out the validity of an image, preventing them from falling for the scam.

10. Meta AI Memory

WhatsApp previously added the option to choose LLM models for Meta AI and is now testing a memory feature for the chatbot. This will enable AI store essential information about the user, such as food preferences, date of birth, choice of conversation style, and more. This will help AI provide responses that are tailored to the user and provide a level of personalization.

11. Add music to your status updates

This is a big one! WhatsApp borrows one of the most appealing aspects of Instagram stories. Soon you can also search add music to your status updates directly in the application. This will makes status updates much more engagingand expressive as you can add the right path to further highlight the emotions of your status. It is under development but should be released in the coming months.

12. Custom sticker packs

If you’re that friend who replies to every text with a sticker, then WhatsApp is adding a way for you to easily organize them. The feature will allow you to create your own custom sticker pack where you can add your favorite or most used stickers and even those received from others. This will help you find them easily when you need them.

13. Get link information from Google

WhatsApp adds another measure to prevent you from visiting malicious or phishing sites. It’s called “Get link info from Google” and it will look up the link on Google before opening the link and visiting the website. This will help you you know whether the site itself is safe or not. To use it, you’ll need to long-press the link to bring up the menu and then select “Get link info from Google.”

14. Status Updates in Widgets

WhatsApp is working on improving its widget for the iOS app. They will allow you see status updates directly from the widget without opening the app. This feature was previously available but was later removed due to redundancy. It’s in the early stages of development, so it’s not clear if you can choose whose updates appear in the widget or if the app does it for you. But it is still a good plus for you to be aware of the condition of your loved one.

15. Manage notifications from third-party apps

Last year we reported that WhatsApp was working on third-party chats, and after that things went radio silent. But a new feature has appeared in the beta version, which shows that the app is working on an option to let you manage notifications from third-party apps. This means that cross-platform support is on its way to WhatsApp and we should get it soon enough.

So, these are pretty much all the major WhatsApp features we’ve seen in October 2024. I personally like the attention status updates are getting and can’t wait for the add music feature to be available to everyone. Now if I wear the wide variety of Instagram stickers.

It’s also worth noting how WhatsApp understands the problem of people being tricked into believing false information and clicking on malicious links, and using Google’s help to counter it. If you have received the stable features we talked about above, then let us know about your experience with them and what feature you are looking forward to seeing on your device.