- WhatsApp beta shows new contacts hub for active status.
- Hub displays recent online contacts and favorites easily.
- Feature currently requires opening individual chats to check.
WhatsApp Update: WhatsApp is developing a new feature that will make it easier for users to check which of their contacts are currently active on the app. The update, spotted in recent beta versions for both Android and iOS, introduces a dedicated Contacts hub within the app.
This section will display recently online contacts and favourites in one place, removing the need to open individual chats just to check someone’s availability. The feature is still under development and is expected to roll out to beta testers before a wider release.
How WhatsApp Currently Handles Online Status
Right now, checking whether a contact is online requires opening a conversation with them. Once inside the chat, the online status appears at the top of the screen. If the contact is not active, WhatsApp shows their “last seen” time instead, which indicates when they were last using the app.
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Both the online status and last seen information are subject to privacy settings. If a contact has restricted this information in their app settings, it will not be visible to others. This means the current system already has limits depending on what each user has chosen to share.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature was first spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.13.3 update, and WhatsApp has since been working to bring the same functionality to iOS, with traces found in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.20.10.70 update available on TestFlight.
What The New Contacts Hub Will Look Like
The new Contacts section will sit within the app settings, just below the profile photo. At the top, users will see up to four favourite contacts for quick access. Below that, the hub will list recently online contacts, with those currently active shown at the top, marked with a green dot on their profile picture. Contacts who were recently active will appear below them in chronological order.
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The hub will also include a search bar, an option to add contacts manually or by scanning a QR code, and the ability to manage Favourites directly from this section. Users will also have the option to sort the contact list by name rather than online status, which is useful for those who have hidden their online activity entirely.
Privacy settings will continue to play a role here. Contacts who have turned off their online status or last seen will not appear in this section, and their activity will not be visible to others through the hub either.
