WhatsApp is testing a new feature that could make it easier for users to identify which of their contacts are online. The proposed update brings contact information, online indicators and birthday reminders together in a dedicated section within the messaging app.
According to a report by WABetaInfo, the new Contacts tab has appeared in a beta version of WhatsApp for Android. However, the feature is still being tested and is not available to every beta tester at this stage.
The report states that the new tab will appear in the bottom navigation bar, between the Updates and Calls sections. Users will be able to browse their contacts and see how many people are online, making it easier to identify contacts who may currently be available.
A green dot will indicate contacts who are online. According to the report, online contacts will appear at the top of the list, while the remaining names will be arranged alphabetically. This layout is intended to make browsing and finding people more convenient.
The proposed Contacts tab will also include birthday reminders. Contacts celebrating their birthdays on a particular day will be marked with a cake emoji and birthday-related text beside their names. The feature may also allow users to invite new people to join WhatsApp directly from the same section.
Another useful addition is a search bar at the top of the tab. Users will be able to search for contacts by name, phone number or username, helping them locate specific people without manually scrolling through their entire contact list.
However, online visibility may depend on WhatsApp’s privacy settings. The supplied report indicates that users who have disabled their last-seen status will not appear as online in this feature. Since the Contacts tab remains under development, WhatsApp has not yet confirmed a general release date for all users.
