WhatsApp to Enable Status Updates Directly From Web Interface

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will enable users to post status updates directly from the web interface.

The feature is in limited beta testing and is expected to be available to more users soon, Android Police reported Tuesday (Dec. 26).

Status updates have been a part of WhatsApp since 2020, allowing users to share temporary posts similar to Snapchat and Telegram, according to the report. However, until now, the feature was only accessible on the primary Android phone or iPhone.

With the latest beta version of WhatsApp Web, a web version of WhatsApp that lets users send and receive messages from their computer browsers, users can post status updates using the web interface, the report said.

The web version of WhatsApp initially allowed users to access their accounts on any device with a web browser, providing a solution for sharing files and accessing accounts dedicated to chat support, per the report. Over time, WhatsApp expanded its linked device support to tablets, native desktop apps, and secondary smartphones.

The current stable version of WhatsApp Web includes dedicated tabs for chats, Communities, Channels and status updates, according to the report. However, users are only able to view updates from their contacts or the temporary posts made from their primary smartphone.

The latest beta version now allows users to post new status updates using the web graphical user interface, the report said.

The new feature will eliminate the need for users to transfer images and videos to their primary smartphone if they plan to post them as status updates, per the report. Since the web version can run on any operating system with a browser, users can post status updates even if the feature isn’t supported on WhatsApp’s native client for that particular operating system.

Earlier in December, WhatsApp began rolling out View Once voice messages that disappear once they’ve been heard. The feature is designed to add another layer of privacy to users’ voice messages.

In October, WhatsApp unveiled a feature that allows users to have multiple accounts logged in at the same time, letting users switch between accounts, such as work and personal, without having to log out each time or carry two phones.