WhatsApp Android Beta Develops Message Preview Without Blue Ticks
WhatsApp is developing a new feature on Android that allows users to read messages without triggering blue checkmarks, mirroring functionality already available on iOS.
Discovered by Android Authority in the beta version v2.26.44.12 of WhatsApp on Android, the option addresses a long-standing limitation where read receipts could not be disabled on a conversation-by-conversation basis.
Currently, users must choose between keeping read receipts on for everyone or turning them off entirely. While the newly tested feature does not change that overarching rule, it achieves the same practical result by letting users preview incoming chats discreetly.
Android Allows Scrolling Within Floating Message Previews
Similar to the iPhone version, performing a long press on a conversation displays it within a floating window where incoming messages appear without sending read confirmations. However, unlike the iOS version—where the preview window is fixed and cannot be scrolled—the version tested on Android includes a scroll bar, allowing users to browse through the discussion while keeping read receipts inactive.
Directly beneath the floating window, a menu replicates the options typically accessed by long-pressing a conversation and opening the top-right vertical three-dot menu. These options include marking a chat as read or unread, locking the discussion, adding it to favorites, and deleting it.
Messages Trigger Contextual Actions for Addresses and Dates
Meta continues to improve its instant messaging platform by rolling out smart and contextual actions directly within conversations on Android and iOS. This feature automatically detects specific formats in received and sent messages, manifesting as a dashed underline. When an email address is recognized, users can copy it or open it in its dedicated application or messaging client. For postal addresses, options include copying the address or opening it in a GPS application or map. Dates and times can be copied, added to a calendar or agenda, and used to create a new event. When a phone number is recognized, users can copy it, add it to contacts, launch a call, or open business information details.
For adding a contact, users enter the phone number 18 002 428 478 and can rename the contact to “ChatGPT”. This functionality follows the same process as industry leaders like Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. All text analysis and generation of quick actions happen locally on the smartphone, ensuring that the company has no access to message contents or suggestions.
Users who find suggestions unhelpful can report them to WhatsApp through a dedicated space after selecting the suggestion, and users may simply ignore the underlines. The feature is currently rolling out on Android and iOS, though some users with the latest version may not see it yet.
Aucune Date De Déploiement Général N'est Connue
Because the functionality is still in its initial testing phase, aucune date de déploiement général n’est connue. However, because the feature already exists on iOS, sources indicate it has a low likelihood of being abandoned before a broader rollout, while WhatsApp has not yet communicated a global deployment date for the smart actions.