File photo for the representation.
Washington: Meta-owned instant messaging application WhatsApp announced today the development of a new feature aimed at improving the group experience, allowing new members to view messages sent before they joined, helping them better understand the context of ongoing discussions.
The feature was introduced in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for iOS users via the TestFlight program, under version 26.2.10.73.
According to WABetaInfo, a website specialising in WhatsApp updates, the new feature enables beta users to share chat history with newly added members, addressing the common challenge of joining group conversations without prior context.
Under the new functionality, newly added members can receive up to 100 messages from conversations that took place within the past 14 days. To activate the feature, an option titled "Share Recent Messages" appears at the bottom of the screen when adding a new member. Users can flexibly choose the number of messages to share, ranging from 25 to 100. For transparency, shared messages appear in a different color, and group members receive a notification identifying who shared the messages.
WhatsApp clarified that the feature is disabled by default, with chat history shared only through a manual decision by the person adding the new member. Confirmation prompts are displayed before sending to ensure full user control.
The update coincides with the launch of "Call Links" feature on WhatsApp Web, allowing new members who receive shared chat history to access and easily join previous or scheduled group call links.
WhatsApp noted that the feature is currently available to a limited number of beta users, ahead of official confirmation and a wider rollout to all users in the near future.
