WhatsApp Releases New 'Reply Bar' Feature: What It Is And How It Works

WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging app by Meta, is rolling out a new reply bar feature for quickly responding to images, videos, and GIFs, as reported by WABetaInfo

According to the publication, the new reply bar feature will become available when viewing images or videos in a conversation after users install the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.20.20 update from the Google Play Store.

How to Check If You Have Received the Reply Bar Feature

To check if you have received the feature, open WhatsApp and then open any image, video, or GIF. If the feature has been made available to you, the reply bar should appear. If it doesn’t show up, try tapping once more. However, since this feature is currently available for beta testers, more users are likely to receive the update in the near future.

How It Works

“The new reply bar allows users to quickly respond to specific media within a chat without dismissing the current screen, making it easier to maintain the flow of conversation and not lose context regarding the shared content,” according to WABetaInfo. This is expected to enhance the user experience as it eliminates interruptions on the screen.

In related news, WhatsApp is also said to be working on a search feature for the Updates tab. This feature will make it possible to search for status updates, followed channels, and other verified channels without the need to open the channel directory. This feature allows searching for status updates and verified channels without opening the channel directory.