WhatsApp tests redesigned Android navigation bar in beta

What the new bar looks like

According to WABetaInfo on 15 November 2026, WhatsApp is testing a redesigned WhatsApp Android navigation bar for some beta users. The report says the bar floats above the app content, uses a circular highlight for the selected tab and adds a blur effect below it. The change appears in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.45.5.

According to WABetaInfo, the updated bar is no longer fixed to the lower edge of the screen. It sits above the main interface, giving the navigation area a separate visual layer. The selected tab now uses a rounded highlight around its icon instead of an earlier pill-shaped marker. The report also describes a blur effect below the bar and a highlight colour that follows the app theme.

How the bar behaves during scrolling

The report says the bar can shrink into a compact pill when a user scrolls down. This behaviour is presented as part of the same beta test. WABetaInfo does not provide a wider explanation of the design goal. The floating layout and the smaller scrolled state are both described as part of the redesign.

View-once text and instant media tests

The same weekly roundup also covers view-once text messages. Beta testers can type a message, long-press the send control and choose the view-once option. WhatsApp then sends the message without showing it in the chat straight away. After the recipient closes the special screen, the message cannot be opened again.

The report says screenshots and screen recordings are blocked while the message is open. The recipient also cannot copy, forward or save the text. WhatsApp is separately testing Instants, a camera-based way to send photos and videos that vanish after viewing.

Instants would add a lightning bolt control above the Chats tab. Tapping it opens a camera for creating the temporary item. Users would not be able to upload from the gallery, so the content must be captured in the app. The item vanishes once the recipient opens it.

Zaps refine that idea. When a user takes an instant photo, it becomes a Zap. A Zap can go to any contact or group, and multiple Zaps in one conversation are grouped with a total count. The recipient sees it once, but the sender keeps a permanent copy in the chat.

Contacts, status and sticker updates

WhatsApp is also testing a Contacts tab on Android beta. The tab replaces Communities and gives users quick access to their contact list. Favourite contacts appear at the top, and the list can be sorted by name, birthday or activity. The activity view places online contacts first and adds a green dot beside them.

A chat-list filter is also reported for communities. WABetaInfo says this filter makes the separate Communities tab redundant. A similar Contacts tab is reported for iOS beta, where users can see online status, add contacts and invite friends. The report says last seen and online status appear only if privacy settings permit it.

WhatsApp is also testing a location option for status updates. After choosing the option in the Updates tab, the app can show the current position as a map card. The card includes a pin, place name and address. Viewers can tap a button to expand the map.

The roundup also mentions new text sticker designs. Users can open the sticker keyboard, choose the text sticker option and use a search field. The number of available styles is said to rise from five to 10.

Who can try it and what remains unclear

The redesigned bar is described for some users who install WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.45.5. That means the feature is not presented as a wider release for every Android user. WABetaInfo does not say when the design will reach a wider audience. Readers should treat the details as beta information until WhatsApp provides its own confirmation.