WhatsApp Is Testing a New Way to Share Chat History With New Group Members

WhatsApp is rolling out a new group feature that makes it easier for newly added members to catch up on conversations—without interrupting ongoing discussions. The feature is currently being tested with select beta users and focuses on controlled, private, and secure message sharing.

What the New Feature Does

The new option allows group admins to:

• Share recent chat history with new members
• Help them understand context without asking repeated questions
• Keep conversations flowing smoothly

Instead of starting from zero, new members get a short, relevant snapshot of recent discussions.

How Chat History Sharing Works

Here’s how WhatsApp is implementing it:

• Only recent messages are eligible for sharing
• A maximum of 100 messages can be shared
• Messages are selected from the last 14 days, depending on activity
• Shared messages appear in highlighted colors so they’re clearly distinguishable from live chats

This avoids confusion between old and new messages.

Admin Control Is the Key

WhatsApp is keeping control firmly in admins’ hands:

• Admins decide whether chat history is shared
• History sharing is not automatic
• Ideal for:
  • Work groups
  • Community groups
  • Large announcement channels

Admins can choose privacy over convenience if needed.

Privacy and Security

Despite sharing older messages, WhatsApp says privacy remains intact:

• End-to-end encryption is fully maintained
• Only messages approved for sharing are visible
• No access to full chat archives
• New members cannot scroll beyond the shared snapshot

This keeps the feature compliant with WhatsApp’s privacy-first approach.

Current Availability

As of now, the feature is:

• Available to some beta testers
• Rolling out via the Google Play Beta Program
• Seen on version v2.26.1.28

A wider beta rollout is expected before a stable release.

Why This Feature Matters

Group chats today are:

• Faster
• Busier
• Often overwhelming for new members

This update helps:

• Reduce repetitive questions
• Save time for admins
• Improve group onboarding
• Keep discussions productive

It’s especially useful for:

• Office teams
• Event groups
• Study communities
• Long-running WhatsApp groups

What’s Still Unknown

WhatsApp has not confirmed:

• When will the feature reach stable users
• Whether non-admins will ever be allowed to suggest messages
• If message limits or time windows will change

Final Thoughts

This feature strikes a smart balance between context and privacy. By limiting message count, time range, and admin control—while keeping encryption intact—WhatsApp is making group chats more usable without compromising security.