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By Tanveer Ahmed :
WhatsApp is testing a new feature for iPhone users that will make it easier to see when contacts are actively using the messaging platform.
According to WhatsApp beta tracker WABetaInfo, the feature introduces a small green dot that appears next to a contact’s profile picture when they are online. The update is currently being tested through WhatsApp’s iOS beta version 26.26.10.72.
The green indicator appears in the bottom-right corner of a contact’s profile photo while they are actively using WhatsApp and disappears once they leave the application.
A New Way to Check Contact Availability
The feature expands WhatsApp’s existing “last seen” status option, which only shows when a user was previously active. The new indicator provides a more immediate view of whether someone is currently available on the platform.
Similar online indicators are already used by other messaging and social platforms, including Instagram and Apple’s iMessage, allowing users to quickly identify when contacts are active.
However, during the early testing phase, the green dot is only visible on a contact’s information page rather than directly in the chat list. This limits its usefulness, as most users usually check availability from their main conversations.
WhatsApp could modify the feature before its official release and potentially add the indicator to chat screens for easier access.
Privacy Controls Remain in Place
WhatsApp is expected to maintain its existing privacy approach with the new feature.
Users who have disabled their online status visibility will not show the green indicator to others, meaning the update will follow current privacy settings rather than automatically revealing activity status.
The company has previously introduced several privacy controls that allow users to manage who can see their online presence, profile information and activity details.
Part of WhatsApp’s Wider Feature Expansion
The online indicator is among several new features WhatsApp is currently testing as Meta continues to expand the platform’s capabilities.
Other features under development include username support, view-once text messages and additional privacy settings related to Meta AI interactions.
WhatsApp has not confirmed an official release date for the green status indicator. If testing is successful, the feature could become available to a wider group of users through future updates on both iPhone and Android devices.
The move reflects WhatsApp’s ongoing effort to compete with rival messaging platforms while improving real-time communication features for its more than two billion users worldwide.
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