Similar in spirit to Apple’s Lockdown Mode for iPhone, the feature is aimed primarily at journalists, activists, and public-facing figures. Once enabled, the setting locks various account options to their most restrictive settings.

For example, WhatsApp will automatically block attachments and media from senders who aren’t in your contacts, reducing potential vectors for spyware or malicious files. Here’s WhatsApp’s support explanation about other settings that are impacted:

• Account security: Two-step verification is turned on. Security notifications are turned on and locked. End-to-end encrypted backups are encouraged for users with backups enabled.
• Messaging and media: Link previews are turned off. Blocking high volumes of unknown account messages is turned on.
• Profile and presence: Your Last seen and online, Profile photo, About details, and links on your profile are locked to contacts only or to your pre-established, more-selective list of people.
• Groups: Only known contacts or a pre-established, more-selective list of people can add you to groups.

Strict account settings can be found in Settings ➝ Privacy ➝ Advanced. When it shows up for you could depend on your location, as WhatsApp says the rollout is happening gradually over the coming weeks. Bear in mind that you can’t control Strict account settings from WhatsApp Web – it can only be accessed from your primary device.

WhatsApp also noted that it has transitioned parts of its codebase to Rust, a programming language known for its memory safety features. The company says this change helps protect photos, videos, and messages from spyware. More technical details are available on Meta’s engineering blog.

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The Meta-owned messaging app is rolling out Member Tags, Text Stickers, and Event Reminders, all of which are designed to give group chats more flexibility and organization.

Member Tags let you assign yourself different roles in different group chats for more context – so you can be “Coach” in one thread and “Dad” in another, for example. Meanwhile, Text Stickers instantly turn typed words into sticker graphics that users can then save to custom packs.

Lastly, with Event Reminders, now when you create and send an event in your group chat you can set custom early reminders for your invitees. Meta says that “this helps everyone remember to commute to the party you’re hosting or hop on the call at the right time.”

The new group chat features are available to WhatsApp users worldwide, and follow other recent upgrades to the chat platform, including third-party chat support in the EU and WhatsApp for Apple Watch.

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As found in the latest TestFlight beta on iOS, the feature introduces a new “Account List” section in the settings menu, where users can add a second account without needing to go near WhatsApp Business or attempt any sort of workaround.

The beta currently supports up to two accounts, which can be newly created numbers, existing accounts from WhatsApp Business or other devices, or companion accounts linked via QR code scanning. Each account maintains separate chat histories, backup configurations, notification settings, and privacy preferences.

To switch between accounts, users can access the Account List section, press and hold the Settings tab for quick selection, or double-tap the Settings tab to automatically switch to the next account. When notifications arrive, WhatsApp displays both the sender’s name and which account received the message to avoid confusion.

The feature is compatible with App Lock, which requires Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode when switching to protected accounts. WhatsApp hasn’t said when the multiple accounts feature will go live for the general public, but the testing stage suggests we won’t have to wait too long.

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WhatsApp parent company Meta is required by the DMA to make its messaging platform interoperable with other third-party services, and Meta says the first apps that WhatsApp will support are BirdyChat and Haiket, following successful testing over recent months.

WhatsApp users on iOS and Android who choose to make use of the interoperability support will be able to share messages, images, voice messages, videos, and files. Meta says there will also be an option to create groups with third-party users, once its partners are ready to support the feature. Meta did not mention web apps or desktop apps, suggesting this will be mobile-only interoperability.

According to Meta, third-party messaging apps must use the same level of end-to-end encryption as WhatsApp to maintain security standards.

From Meta’s newsroom post:

Meta’s partnerships with BirdyChat and Haiket is a result of more than three years of work with European messaging services and the European Commission to build a solution to third-party chats that meets the requirements of the DMA, while preserving privacy and security for users as much as possible.

This follows three core principles:

• Protecting user security and privacy: In line with DMA requirements, third-party messaging apps must use the same level of E2EE as WhatsApp.
• Clear and simple experience: We’ve provided users with a simple onboarding experience, while ensuring they understand the main differences between chats on WhatsApp and third-party chats.
• Available to European users: In line with DMA requirements, third-party chats will be available to people in the European Region.

Meta says that over the coming months, WhatsApp users in the European Region will begin seeing a notification in the app’s Settings tab that will explain how they can opt-in to connect with people on third-party apps. Meta intends to “expand our interoperability offerings” as required by the DMA, and will provide updates on its progress as it rolls out further features in time.

In February 2024, WhatsApp claimed it had been working on interoperability for years, and that its work was only partially motivated by the DMA.

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At long last, WhatsApp for Apple Watch goes live, bringing support for texts, voice notes and calls to your wrist.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

The app allows you to send messages, read full messages, send message reactions, record and send voice messages, receive call notifications, and more — all directly on your Apple Watch, with no need to take out your iPhone.

Meta’s announcement highlighted some of the key features:

• Call notifications: You can see who’s calling without looking at your iPhone.
• Full messages: You can read full WhatsApp messages on Apple Watch — even long messages are visible directly from your wrist.
• Written messages: You can write out and send messages directly from your watch.
• Voice messages: You can record and send voice messages.
• Reactions: You can send quick emoji reactions to messages you receive.
• A great media experience: You’ll see clearer images and stickers on your Apple Watch.
• Chat history: You can see more of your chat history on screen when reading messages.

WhatsApp is available on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer running watchOS 10 or later.

A connected iPhone with the WhatsApp app installed is required, and you will need to update the app to the latest version that was released today.

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The feature extends the app’s 2021 end-to-end encrypted backup system, which previously required users to create and save a lengthy key to restore chats. With passkeys, authentication uses each device’s built-in authentication hardware like ‌Touch ID‌ or ‌Face ID‌, meaning the private cryptographic key never leaves the phone. This makes backups both more secure and much easier to restore.

The rollout is set to be global and gradual over the coming weeks. Users can enable it via Settings → Chats → Chat backup → End-to-end encrypted backup once available. iCloud and Google Drive remain the storage destinations for iOS and Android, respectively. The move continues Meta’s broader adoption of passkeys, which WhatsApp first supported for account logins in 2023.

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