WhatsApp repositions navigation bar for Android phones

WhatsApp
, the popular messaging service, has rolled out a new update for Android users. The update brings a redesigned navigation bar to the bottom of the screen, replacing the previous top-of-screen placement.
The company announced the latest update via an
X/Twitter post
. The company says they “moved some things around to make it easier to access what you need when you need it.”
android friends, we moved some things around to make it easier to access what you need, when you need it
meet your new navigation tools 🤝 closer to your thumbs and easy on the eyes
pic.twitter.com/CqLvZf9meo
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp)
March 28, 2024
With a new design, while users will still see tabs for Communities, Chats, Status, and Calls, the order has now been rearranged. Additionally,  the “Status” tab has been renamed to “Updates”.
Now, all four tabs feature dedicated icons for easier identification, whereas previously only the Communities tab displayed an icon. The color scheme has also shifted from a green navigation bar to a white one.
The bottom placement puts the navigation bar closer to the user’s thumbs, minimizing the need to stretch across larger phone screens. Users can now quickly tap icons to move between sections, in addition to swiping between them.
The updated navigation initially appeared in India, but WhatsApp has now expanded the rollout globally. Android users should update their WhatsApp app from the Google Play Store to access the new design.
In related news, WhatsApp is testing a
third-party chat management feature
in the app. The feature has been rolled out in a beta update for Android at the beginning of March.
Essentially, this would allow WhatsApp users to message users from other platforms like Telegram or Signal. This would be a game-changer for users as they wouldn’t need to create separate accounts or do multiple sign-ins to chat with users of other platforms.