WhatsApp is testing a new reminder feature to help users manage important messages more effectively. Currently being rolled out to beta users on Android, the feature is designed to reduce the chances of missing or forgetting to reply to critical messages, especially in busy personal or group chats.
What is the new WhatsApp reminder feature?
The reminder tool allows users to set alerts for individual messages in any chat. Unlike pinned or starred messages, this feature proactively notifies users at a selected time, bringing the message back into focus with a prompt. It works across all message formats — including text, photos, videos, and GIFs.
The feature was first spotted by WABetaInfo in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.21.14, following an earlier test in version 2.24.25.29. The beta is currently available through the Google Play Beta Program.
How the reminder works
To use the feature, users can long-press any message, tap the three-dot menu, and select the new “Remind me” option. They can then choose a preset time interval — 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours — or set a custom reminder. Once a reminder is set, a small bell icon appears next to the message to make it stand out in the conversation.
At the scheduled time, WhatsApp will send a notification marked with a “🔔Reminder” tag. This will include the original message, the sender’s name or group, and a preview of any media content. It behaves like a standard notification, drawing the user's attention to the specific message once again.
More features under testing
Alongside the manual reminder feature, WhatsApp is also working on a tool that automatically alerts users about unread messages from frequent contacts. This could help in ensuring that key conversations are not missed when switching between multiple chats or group threads.
Availability
As of now, the reminder feature is limited to Android beta testers, with no official word on when it will roll out to all users. However, a future rollout through the iOS TestFlight programme is expected.
The stable rollout of the feature remains a mystery, considering WhatsApp has just started testing it. It might take some time to make it to the stable version.
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