TechSoftwareAppsWhatsApp is rolling out a great free upgrade for iPhone and AndroidShare bigger files, talk to more people and react to messages with emojiWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechSoftwareAppsWhatsApp is rolling out a great free upgrade for iPhone and AndroidShare bigger files, talk to more people and react to messages with emojiWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Share bigger files, talk to more people and react to messages with emoji
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Good news foriPhoneandAndroidWhatsApp users: the popular messaging service is rolling out its promised new features this week, enabling you to do more and talk to more people.
The update means you can now have much larger group chats, and you can also send much larger files than before. But the feature that’s going to be used the most is the new reactions feature, which enables you to respond to messages with emoji. That’s going to be particular important in group chats, where it’s useful to show you’ve seen a message without adding to the firehose of messages. It’s something we’ve already got in similar messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, and it’s very useful.
The rollout is happening at two speeds, with reactions rolling out very quickly and the other changes rolling out a little more slowly.
(Image credit: Whatsapp)
(Image credit: Whatsapp)
Share more with more people
The group chat and file sharing improvements are more for business users. The maximum number of participants in a group chat is currently 128, but WhatsApp is boosting that to 512. The thought of being in that size of chat gives me the fear, but you can see the utility if you’re in the kind of environment that needs to communicate with lots of people at once.
The other big change here is the increase in the maximum size of files. That’s currently 100MB, but WhatsApp is boosting it to 2GB so you can send things you’d previously need to use a service such as WeTransfer for.
According to Meta, WhatsApp’s owner, you should see the new features in your app within the next week or so; some users are reporting that they’re in their apps today.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Samsung Galaxy S25: every leak, rumour and spec we’ve heard before the launch eventThis is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This case turns your iPhone or Android phone into an e-reader, but there’s a catchActually, there are a couple…
Actually, there are a couple…
WhatsApp gets a free festive update just in time for New YearToday’s app update brings some festive cheer to your chats
Today’s app update brings some festive cheer to your chats
Your older iPhone could soon lose WhatsAppYou’ve got five months to upgrade or switch to another chat app
You’ve got five months to upgrade or switch to another chat app
WhatsApp users just snagged a killer free upgrade which will change voice notes foreverIt could speed up your time spent listening to voice notes
It could speed up your time spent listening to voice notes
WhatsApp just got a great free upgrade to give you the gift of timeThis new WhatsApp update is going to be a big help for the busy or easily distracted
This new WhatsApp update is going to be a big help for the busy or easily distracted
WhatsApp’s latest free update could be its most useful and significant yetUpdate coming to WhatsApp brings a new feature that’s been long awaited
Update coming to WhatsApp brings a new feature that’s been long awaited
WhatsApp’s latest free update is great for iPhone ownersThis WhatsApp update adds some useful tweaks to the app and a new widget for iPhone users
This WhatsApp update adds some useful tweaks to the app and a new widget for iPhone users
WhatsApp’s having a big week with a second free app updateFresh from adding new video filters, WhatsApp is now updating its sharing options
Fresh from adding new video filters, WhatsApp is now updating its sharing options
WhatsApp just got a great free video upgradeFilters and backgrounds are now here to make your video calls more fun
Filters and backgrounds are now here to make your video calls more fun
