WhatsApp recently announced a new feature called “channels” that is currently being developed. This feature will enable users to receive important updates privately and reliably from individuals and organizations. It is still in development and will be released in a future update of WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, and Desktop.
Common Questions | Answers |
---|---|
What is the changelog about? | Channels |
What is the current status of channels? | Channels are currently rolling out in Singapore and Colombia. |
Is the feature available to everyone? | Channels are available for some users in Singapore and Colombia, but WhatsApp is working on bringing this feature to a future update of the app for everyone. |
Why don’t I have this feature on my version? | This feature is currently available to a limited number of users and will be released to everyone in the future. In the meantime, you can find more details in this article. |
WhatsApp has exciting news to share! In their latest blog post, they introduced a new feature called “channels.” Channels will provide a secure and private way to receive important updates from people and organizations that are important to you.
Mark Zuckerberg even shared this announcement on Facebook, revealing that channels are now being rolled out in Singapore and Colombia.
To access channels, simply navigate to the dedicated “Updates” tab, separate from regular chats.
This feature was also mentioned in our previous article about the WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.11.0.70 update.
According to the official blog post, we found out that admins of channels on WhatsApp can share different kinds of content, like text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls, with their followers.

This feature will be helpful for various purposes, such as sharing updates about hobbies, sports teams, and even receiving news from local officials.
If you’re an admin, WhatsApp assures that your phone number and profile picture will stay hidden from your followers, so your personal information will always be protected.
Likewise, followers’ phone numbers will not be visible to admins or other followers. Also, it’s completely up to each user to decide whom they want to follow, ensuring full control over their participation.
That’s why channels are considered private tools for broadcasting information.
WhatsApp understands that channel updates don’t need to stay forever. That’s why they are planning to keep the history of channels on their servers for up to 30 days.
They are also working on creating new tools to make updates disappear from devices even faster. Additionally, admins will have the option to block screenshots and forwards from their channels if they want.
Admins can choose to make their channels discoverable in the directory or keep them hidden.
While channels don’t have end-to-end encryption by default, WhatsApp is thinking about adding limited audience end-to-end encrypted channels in the future, especially for organizations like non-profits or health institutions.
WhatsApp is introducing channels, a new feature that will be available to everyone in a future update of WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, and Desktop.
They will start by launching Channels in Colombia and Singapore with some partners and select organizations to improve the user experience. We will make sure to keep you informed about any new updates.