Mumbai: WhatsApp is set to roll out a fresh set of privacy-focused features in the coming weeks, giving users greater control over their profile cover photos, shared links, and status updates.
The Meta-owned messaging platform is currently testing these enhancements with beta users on both Android and iOS, with a stable release expected soon.
One of the most anticipated additions is improved privacy controls for cover photos. In the latest iOS beta version 26.1.10.73, users can now decide exactly who can view their profile cover image, offering finer-grained settings than before. On the sticker front, iOS beta 26.1.10.72 brings more accurate and context-aware sticker suggestions triggered automatically when relevant emojis are typed.
Link sharing is also getting a cleaner, more secure makeover. The App Store update to iOS 26.1.74 introduces compact link previews that display only essential details — image thumbnail, protocol, second-level domain, and top-level domain — while hiding lengthy URL paths. Users who want the full link can simply long-press the domain name in the bubble to reveal it.
Meanwhile, Android beta testers running version 2.26.2.9 have spotted a handy “Status Privacy Info” feature. This lets users quickly review the privacy settings applied to each individual status update. By opening the viewers sheet and tapping the overflow menu, one can access the audience section to see whether the status was shared with “My contacts”, “My contacts except…”, or a custom list.
These updates, first highlighted by WABetaInfo this week, signal WhatsApp’s continued push to strengthen user privacy and improve everyday controls without compromising convenience. Once stabilised, the features are likely to reach millions of users across Android and iOS in the near future.