Observed Signal · Oct 3, 2026 · Market Signal · Source: WABetaInfo · Impact: 3/5
WhatsApp will move channels to the Chats tab
WhatsApp plans to integrate channels directly into the chat list on iOS and Android. Users will no longer need to switch to a separate tab to find their channels. Once WhatsApp moves channels to the Chats tab, the Updates tab will disappear. WhatsApp can then introduce the Contacts tab, a new section where users can see who is currently active.
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WhatsApp tests moving Channels to Chats tab
According to WABetaInfo, Meta is internally testing the integration of WhatsApp Channels into the primary Chats tab, moving away from the Current tab where they are currently separated. Three different configurations are being tested: direct listing within chat history, a filtered view, or a dedicated folder. This shift breaks Meta's earlier promise of strict separation between private and commercial content, bringing monetization features like subscriptions and sponsored channels closer to personal chats. The Current tab may be replaced by a Contacts tab. Privacy protections remain unchanged.
WhatsApp Status to appear in Chat Tab
WhatsApp is testing a feature to surface status updates directly in the Chat tab, arranged horizontally like Instagram Stories. In an Android beta reported by WABetaInfo, status updates will appear beside chats with a horizontal row, initially showing up to three story hints and later enabling a scrollable list of all new updates. The change aims to boost creators' reach by making status content more accessible within chats. The piece also notes WhatsApp’s broader push toward social features and references Meta's global rollout of Status Ads in the Updates tab, which could increase exposure for status content and ads. Industry observer Matt Navarra likens the move to Instagram’s Stories. WhatsApp currently serves over three billion monthly active users.
WhatsApp Plus Tests Focus Schedules for Subscribers
WhatsApp is developing a new 'Focus Schedules' feature for its premium Plus subscription, aiming to help users automatically mute or hide chats during specified time periods. The feature was discovered in the WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.26.39.9 by WABetaInfo. It will allow users to set time windows for different chat lists, such as work chats from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays, and personal chats only during evenings or weekends. Outside these windows, chats will be automatically muted or hidden from the chat overview. The feature appears to be reserved for WhatsApp Plus subscribers, which is part of Meta One and costs €2.49 per month. It is still in development and not yet available to beta testers. Additionally, WhatsApp may move Channels into the primary Chats tab, blurring the line between personal and commercial content.
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