If you think you've mastered WhatsApp, you might be in for a surprise. The Meta app is constantly evolving, and between updates, they've been adding features and gestures that go unnoticed by most users, but which make your daily life much easier.
Master video calls: Reactions and speaking turns
For those who use WhatsApp as an alternative to platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, new features have arrived that change the dynamics of calls. It's now possible to politely request to speak by raising your hand. This prevents you from interrupting someone mid-sentence, which can be awkward in work environments or virtual classes.
To activate this option, simply go to the three-dot menu on your mobile device or the emoji icon on your computer and select Raise hand . Once others see that you want to speak, you can wait your turn, and if you no longer need to speak, you can tap Lower hand to clear the screen.
In addition, video calls now allow you to add emoji reactions in real time. Simply go to the options menu and choose the emoji that best represents your mood. If you make a mistake or want to change it, just tap the current emoji and choose another from the extensive library available.
The secret to organizing your chats without going crazy
Sometimes, your WhatsApp home screen can feel like a jungle of groups and unread messages. To fix this, there's a simple trick: swipe down slightly on the chats tab. This will bring up a smart filter bar that lets you separate the wheat from the chaff.
- Not read: Ideal for quickly locating those messages that we may have overlooked.
- Favorites: To have on hand the people or groups we consult most often.
- Groups: Filter all group chats to clear your vision.
The most powerful feature of this system is that you can create custom lists by pressing the "+" button. This allows you to organize your chats by categories, such as "Work," "Family," or "Travel," avoiding endless scrolling. An extra tip is that if you press and hold the unread filter, you can mark all chats as read at once, saving you the trouble of opening them one by one.
Clearing up doubts about hand gestures and iOS
It's common to find confusion about certain visual effects, such as balloons or hearts that appear when you make hand gestures in front of the camera. It's crucial to clarify that these 3D augmented reality reactions are not a native WhatsApp feature, but rather belong to the FaceTime app and other video calling apps compatible with iOS 17 on iPhone 12 or later models.
If you see that these effects work for someone else but not for you, it's probably because they depend on the device's operating system and hardware , not the messaging app itself. WhatsApp focuses more on standardizing the experience between Android and iOS, prioritizing tools like the raised hand emoji that works on both platforms.
How to access Beta features
If you're one of those who can't wait for features to be rolled out to everyone, you can join the WhatsApp Beta program. On Android, you do this directly from the Play Store by searching for the app and checking for openings in the Beta Program section . On iOS, the process is through TestFlight.
However, keep in mind that these versions are for testing and may have stability issues or unexpected crashes, but it's the only way to test the tools before anyone else and see where the platform's evolution is headed.
Both the ability to organize the inbox with swipe gestures and the turn-taking feature in video calls demonstrate that the app aims to be a comprehensive tool. By combining the visual clarity of chats with smoother nonverbal communication in calls, WhatsApp adapts to the needs of remote work and online education, ensuring a much more organized and professional interaction for all its users.