WhatsApp multi-device encryption to sticker suggestions: New features, changes spotted on latest beta versions

WhatsApp is constantly adding new features to its popular encrypted messaging service. From cosmetic changes to the app, to the ability to check vaccine availability, or the ability to search for stickers inside the app, the company is always trying to add useful functionality with each update.

Over the past week, we have covered some of these visual changes or handy new features coming to the messaging service that have been revealed via recent beta versions of the app. If you want to stay up to date on all the new capabilities and changes that could arrive in a future version of WhatsApp, here’s a handy list of what the company has been working on over the past week.

Upcoming WhatsApp Multi-Device feature to support end-to-end encryption

WhatsApp’s upcoming multi-device support has been one of the most requested feature for users on the app, but one of the biggest concerns for users has been whether the app would continue to offer end-to-end encryption for users who use the service on multiple devices. On Tuesday, WhatsApp feature leaker WABetaInfo finally revealed that the messaging app’s multi-device mode will also work with end-to-end encryption.

WhatsApp reverted a visual change in the beta version following user complaints

In a recent WhatsApp beta version, the company decided to do away with the green colour accent for fonts on the Android app’s notification. These were replaced with a grayish blue shade, which had appeared on the beta version of the app. However, after users complained that the text was not easily legible with the new colours, the company has reverted the colours back to the original WhatsApp green colour that most users are familiar with.

Jio starts providing Covid-19 vaccine availability info to users via WhatsApp

Using CoWIN to locate vaccination centers nearby and then find an available slot can be a very tedious affair. Not only is it time-consuming but users also have to identify patterns when vaccines are usually made available and then rush accordingly to look for a slot. To save users the hassle, Jio will now allow users to check vaccine availability using the company’s chatbot on WhatsApp. The biggest advantage? Not having to enter an OTP repeatedly.

WhatsApp makes it easier for users to search and find stickers on latest iOS beta

We recently reported about WhatsApp adding support for the ability to search for stickers on the beta version of its app for Android devices. It looks like the same functionality is now being tested on iOS devices, via the company’s TestFlight beta testing program. According to WABetaInfo, typing a specific word or emoji will suggest relevant stickers in your sticker library by animating the sticker button – this will work alongside the previously introduced sticker search function.