WhatsApp Channels Update: WhatsApp is reportedly preparing a major change to the way users access Channels. Instead of keeping followed Channels inside a separate Updates section, the messaging platform is testing a design that could place them directly inside the main Chats tab.

The change is being explored for both Android and iOS and could make it easier for users to find Channels without repeatedly switching between different sections of the app.

According to feature-tracking platform WABetaInfo, references to the redesigned experience have appeared in WhatsApp's recent development and beta builds. On Android, testing has been associated with WhatsApp beta version 2.26.39.1.

However, WhatsApp has not confirmed that the redesign will be released to everyone in its current form. Several layouts are reportedly being tested, and the company could modify the interface before a wider rollout.

WhatsApp Channels Could Move to the Chats Tab

At present, WhatsApp separates personal conversations and Channels into different areas of the application.

The proposed redesign could change this by bringing followed Channels into the same general section where users already access their chats.

The idea is to reduce the need to open another tab simply to check updates from Channels.

For users who frequently follow news organisations, creators, brands or other Channels, this could make updates easier to access from WhatsApp's main interface.

However, WhatsApp is reportedly testing different ways of implementing the change rather than committing to a single design.

Users May Get a Choice for Existing Channels

People who already follow WhatsApp Channels could be shown a prompt when the new experience becomes available.

According to the report, users may be asked how they want their existing Channels to be handled.

One option could move the Channels directly into the main chat list.

Another could automatically place them in an archived section, allowing users to keep the main conversation list less crowded.

This choice could be particularly useful for people who follow a large number of Channels but do not want Channel updates mixed prominently with personal and group conversations.

Three Different Layouts Are Reportedly Being Tested

WhatsApp is reportedly experimenting with three different configurations for displaying Channels within the Chats tab.

The company could evaluate feedback and usage during testing before deciding which layout is most suitable for a broader release.

This means screenshots or interface designs appearing during the development phase may not necessarily represent the final version that reaches users.

WhatsApp frequently tests multiple versions of features before deciding whether and how they should be released publicly.

What Could Happen to the Updates Tab?

Moving Channels away from the Updates tab could lead to another significant interface change.

If Channels become part of the Chats tab, the current Updates section could lose one of its main functions.

According to the report, WhatsApp is considering replacing the Updates tab with a new Contacts tab.

The proposed Contacts section could provide a dedicated place where users can browse their WhatsApp contacts and potentially see who is currently active, depending on privacy settings and the final implementation.

This would represent a broader reorganisation of WhatsApp's navigation rather than simply moving Channels from one screen to another.

WhatsApp Is Working on the Same Change for iPhone

The redesign is not expected to be limited to Android.

WhatsApp is reportedly developing a similar Channels-in-Chats experience for its iOS application.

The company is said to be experimenting with the same three general configurations on iOS that are being considered for Android.

However, the iOS implementation appears to be at an earlier stage.

According to the report, the functionality is still under development and is not yet available for beta testing on iOS.

WhatsApp has also not disclosed which configuration it intends to select for the eventual public release.

Why Moving Channels Could Be Useful

Placing Channels closer to regular conversations could make them easier to discover and access.

Users who frequently read Channel updates would no longer necessarily need to switch between the Chats and Updates sections.

At the same time, providing an option to archive followed Channels could help prevent the main Chats tab from becoming too crowded.

The success of the redesign will therefore depend on how clearly WhatsApp distinguishes personal conversations, groups and one-way Channel updates.

Since multiple layouts are still being evaluated, the final interface could look different from the versions currently being tested.

WhatsApp Is Also Testing Focus Schedules

Channels are not the only area where WhatsApp is experimenting with changes.

WABetaInfo has also reported on a feature called Focus Schedules, which could give users more control over when notifications from specific chat lists are allowed.

Under the reported concept, users could create schedules for selected chat lists.

Outside those chosen periods, WhatsApp could automatically mute or hide the relevant chats without requiring the user to manually change notification settings every time.

The report associates Focus Schedules with a set of features being explored for WhatsApp Plus, including additional controls for premium subscribers.

Users could potentially configure separate schedules for different lists and add multiple time windows to a single list.

As with other unreleased features, its final availability and implementation should not be considered confirmed until WhatsApp officially launches it.

Restricted Chat Is Another Privacy Feature Being Tested

WhatsApp is simultaneously testing stronger privacy controls for individual conversations.

A feature called Restricted Chat has reportedly appeared for selected users running WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.39.11.

The setting can be enabled from a conversation's Chat Info page for eligible testers.

Once activated, Restricted Chat reportedly introduces four major limitations.

Media from the conversation is prevented from automatically saving to the device's gallery, chat export is disabled, Meta AI functionality cannot be used within the conversation, and the restricted conversation is unavailable on linked devices.

The linked-device restriction could be particularly useful for people who want sensitive conversations to remain limited to their primary smartphone.

When Will the New WhatsApp Layout Arrive?

WhatsApp has not provided a confirmed date for the wider rollout of the Channels redesign described in the report.

On Android, elements of the feature are being explored through beta development, while the corresponding iOS changes are reportedly still under development.

Because WhatsApp is testing multiple configurations, the company could change the design considerably before releasing it to regular users.

For now, the biggest expected change is that WhatsApp Channels could eventually become accessible directly from the Chats tab, potentially removing the need for users to visit a separate section to find the Channels they follow.

If WhatsApp proceeds with the broader redesign, users could also see a new Contacts tab replace the existing Updates section. Until the company completes testing and announces a stable rollout, however, these changes should be treated as upcoming possibilities rather than features already available to everyone.