New Delhi: WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will make it easier to see who is active at any moment. In a recent beta update, the app already introduced an activity indicator for group chats. This shows how many people are currently active in a group, helping users understand how busy a conversation is without opening it.
Now, the company is taking this idea further. In a newer beta version, WhatsApp is testing a feature that will show exactly which contacts are online. This means users may soon be able to check active contacts in one place instead of opening chats one by one.
A dedicated section for online contacts
WhatsApp online contacts list feature.
The upcoming feature is expected to appear as a separate section inside the app settings. Here, users will find a list of contacts who are currently online. This section is still under development, so its final placement may change before release.
At the top of this page, WhatsApp may also suggest adding unknown contacts. These suggestions will include people you often interact with, especially those from group chats. For example, if you frequently message someone from a group, the app might recommend saving their number.
Sorting and easier access
The contact list will come with sorting options. It allows users to choose and see names in order or arrange them based on who is active. If they pick the activity option, people who are online will be shown first. After that, others will appear depending on when they were last seen. For instance, someone who was active a few minutes ago will come before someone who hasn’t been online for longer. This way, you don’t have to open different chats just to check who is available.
There is still privacy
WhatsApp is keeping privacy settings unchanged. If a contact has hidden their last seen, it will not be used for sorting. They will only appear if they are currently online. If someone has also hidden their online status, they will not appear in the list at all.
Though, it is still being tested and is expected to roll out in a future update after further improvements.