Last updated: 1 November 2026 — this guide refreshes every month with WhatsApp’s newest features and settings.
WhatsApp keeps adding features quietly — no big announcement, just a new button in Settings one morning. These are the WhatsApp new features and hidden settings for 2026 that are actually worth turning on: the brand-new November group features, the profile cover photo rolling out in beta, and the privacy settings most people never find.
New This Month: WhatsApp Group Features (October 2026 Rollout)
WhatsApp rolled out four group-chat upgrades on 30 October 2026, aimed at groups you rejoin after being away:
- Pin messages permanently: group admins can now pin an important message with no expiry — earlier, pins always expired after a set time. Long-press a message, tap Pin, and choose the permanent option.
- Group status updates: members can share a casual status update with one specific group instead of all contacts.
- Mention and reply filters: a new chat filter finds groups where you were mentioned or got a direct reply, including messages that used @all.
- Share message history with new members: after someone joins, an admin or member can send them recent messages retroactively by tapping their name in the chat. Shared messages stay end-to-end encrypted.
Profile Cover Photos (Beta)
WhatsApp is testing Facebook-style cover photos for personal profiles (Android beta version 2.26.43.11, reported 31 October 2026). A landscape banner will sit above your profile picture on your profile page and in Settings, and you will control who sees it: Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except, or Nobody. If you do not have it yet, it is still rolling out — update WhatsApp and check your profile page in the coming weeks.
Call Filtering for Unknown Numbers (Beta)
Spotted in Android beta 2.26.41.4, WhatsApp Call Filtering will replace the old “Silence unknown callers” switch with three modes: Never (ring for everyone), Silence (mute unknown numbers quietly), and a smart mode that asks the unknown caller why they are calling before your phone rings. The screening happens on your phone, not on a server. It is still in beta — treat it as coming soon, not live.
Hidden Settings Worth Turning On Today
1. Chat Lock with Secret Code
Lock any private chat so it moves into a hidden “Locked Chats” folder. Long-press the chat, tap Lock chat, then set a secret code. To hide the folder itself, open Locked Chats, go to Settings, and turn on Hide Locked Chats — after that, the folder only appears when you type your secret code in the search bar.
2. Voice Message Transcripts
Long voice notes you cannot play out loud? Go to Settings → Chats → Voice Message Transcripts and turn it on. WhatsApp will convert incoming voice messages into text you can read silently.
3. HD Photos and Videos by Default
Stop WhatsApp compressing every photo. Go to Settings → Storage and Data → Media Upload Quality and set it to HD. Every photo and video you send after that goes in high quality.
4. Edit a Sent Message (15 Minutes)
Sent a message with a typo? Long-press it within 15 minutes and tap Edit. The message shows an “edited” label, but the mistake is gone.
5. One WhatsApp Account on Two Phones
You can run the same WhatsApp account on a second phone. On the second phone, open WhatsApp, choose Link as companion device, then scan the QR code from your main phone under Settings → Linked Devices.
6. Meta AI Inside Any Chat
Type @Meta AI in any chat to ask the built-in AI assistant a question or generate an image without leaving the conversation.
7. Screen Share on Video Calls
On a video call, tap Share to show your screen — handy for online classes, showing photos, or helping family with a phone setting.
WhatsApp Privacy Checklist (2 Minutes)
- Silence unknown callers (Settings → Privacy → Calls) until Call Filtering reaches your phone.
- Hide your Last Seen and Online status from non-contacts (Settings → Privacy).
- Turn on disappearing messages for chats you do not want kept forever.
- Check Linked Devices once a month and remove any device you do not recognise.
FAQs
Which WhatsApp features are new in November 2026?
The newest live features are the October group upgrades — permanent pins, group status, mention filters and message-history sharing. Profile cover photos and call filtering are in beta and rolling out gradually.
How do I hide a locked chat completely?
Lock the chat, then in the Locked Chats folder go to Settings and turn on Hide Locked Chats with a secret code. The folder then only appears when you type that code in search.
Do voice message transcripts work offline?
Transcripts are generated on your device; you need the feature turned on in Settings → Chats first, and it works for voice messages you receive after that.
Will this guide be updated next month?
Yes — this post refreshes monthly. The “Last updated” line at the top shows the latest refresh date.
Keep exploring: Meta AI Photo Editing Prompts • ChatGPT Photo Editing Prompts • Trending Gemini AI Photo Styles
Which hidden setting did you not know about? Tell us in the comments — the most useful ones stay on next month’s list.