WhatsApp tests new option to share recent group messages with new members

WhatsApp

• WhatsApp tests feature for sharing recent chat history with new group members
• Share up to 100 messages from the past 14 days with new members.
• Feature is in beta on iOS and Android, with no confirmed public rollout date yet

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WhatsApp is testing a new feature that allows group members to selectively share recent chat history with newly added participants, addressing one of the platform’s most common usability gaps. The feature is currently available to a limited number of beta testers via TestFlight on iOS and through Android beta builds, according to WABetaInfo.

At its core, the feature gives users control. When adding a new member to a group, WhatsApp now offers an option to share recent messages, rather than automatically dropping the person into the conversation without any context. Users can choose to share up to 100 recent messages from the last 14 days, or opt for fewer messages if they prefer to limit what the new member sees.

This approach mirrors functionality that has long existed on platforms like Slack and Telegram, where access to past conversations helps new members quickly understand ongoing discussions, decisions, or shared resources. For WhatsApp, which is used just as often for work, communities, and event coordination as it is for casual chats, the addition feels overdue.

How the feature works in practice

To check if the feature is available, users need to add a new member to a group as usual. From the group info screen, after selecting “Add member” and choosing a contact, WhatsApp may display an option at the bottom of the screen asking whether recent messages should be shared. If it appears, users can then decide how many messages to send, up to the 100-message limit.

Messages shared using this feature are visually distinct. WABetaInfo notes that they appear in a different colour, making it easier for new members to identify which messages were shared as part of the catch-up process rather than sent in real time.

WhatsApp has also built in a transparency layer to prevent misuse. When recent messages are shared, the group is notified via a system message that clearly states who shared the chat history with the new member. This ensures other participants are aware that past conversations have been forwarded, addressing potential privacy concerns.

Importantly, WhatsApp says the process does not weaken its end-to-end encryption. The messages and encryption keys are handled on the device of the person adding the new member, and the shared messages remain fully encrypted when delivered.

There is no confirmed timeline for a public rollout yet. However, since the feature is already being tested on both iOS and Android, it is likely to arrive more broadly in the coming weeks or months.