WhatsApp Beta has recently received two updates, introducing new features that are expected to roll out in the stable version soon. Both features were seen previously. While one of them is already available to select beta testers, the other one — which users have had their eyes on for ages — is still in development, but there is progress.
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WhatsApp Beta 2.25.4.11 Introduces Update Filters and Username Change Notification for Better Security
Since they are often used as a proving ground for forthcoming improvements, WhatsApp Beta continues to roll out features ahead of their general availability. Other new updates involve automatic language detection, allowing users to translate incoming messages, group member labels, and enhanced status tools. In the past few hours, WhatsApp has released two back-to-back updates, number 2.24.15.10 and 2.24.15.11, both of which contain hidden features that are currently under development.
Now, WhatsApp is bringing filters to the “Updates” tab —building on its filtering system available in the “Chats” tab to allow users to sort conversations. Recent screenshots reveal that the “Updates” tab now includes three filtering options: “All,” “Status” (displaying only status updates from contacts), and “Channels” (listing subscribed channels with a preview of the latest post and suggested channels).
These filters are already available to a large number of users running WhatsApp Beta version 2.25.4.10, suggesting that a stable release is just around the corner. WhatsApp has also been developing a username feature like the one used by Telegram for almost two years. But this would give users the option of sharing a unique username instead of their phone number for added privacy purposes.
While this feature has not yet been rolled out to beta testers, the latest update (version 2.25.4.11) introduces an enhancement: when a user changes their username, a notification badge appears in chat stating, “XXX changed their username.” This aims to improve security by preventing identity theft. Though still in development, this feature is expected to be released in a future update, though no official timeline has been provided.
