WhatsApp is working on introducing threaded replies to its iOS app, a feature that promises to make conversations significantly clearer and more organised. The update was spotted in the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS (version 25.19.10.80) and, while it has been previously tested on Android beta builds, this marks the first time it has appeared in iOS development.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature remains under active development and is not yet available for widespread testing. However, screenshots show it functioning in internal builds, suggesting a public beta rollout could be approaching in the coming weeks.
How will threaded replies work?
Threaded replies, already common in apps like Slack, allow individual messages within a chat to become the anchor point for a dedicated sub-conversation. On WhatsApp, message bubbles will display a small indicator showing the number of replies in a thread. Tapping this indicator will open a dedicated screen displaying the entire thread, allowing users to read past replies and add new messages seamlessly.
This organisational improvement will be particularly beneficial in busy group chats, where multiple discussions often take place simultaneously, making it difficult to follow specific replies. By grouping responses into threads, WhatsApp will eliminate the need to scroll through long chat histories to locate related messages, reducing confusion and enhancing communication clarity.
Notably, the feature won’t be limited to group chats. Users will be able to utilise threaded replies in:
- Individual chats
- Communities
- Channels
This universality will ensure that conversation tracking is streamlined across all forms of interaction within the app, whether it’s coordinating family plans in group chats or following community discussions in a channel.
Availability
While the feature is visible in iOS beta builds, it is not yet accessible to testers. There is no official timeline for its rollout to the public version, and as with most WhatsApp developments, it could take several weeks or months before it arrives on stable builds.
Meta’s push to add threaded replies aligns with its broader strategy to modernise WhatsApp’s messaging experience, keeping it competitive with workplace collaboration apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams while enhancing usability for casual and professional users alike.
For now, iOS users will need to wait for further beta updates to experience threaded replies, but once available, it promises to be one of the most impactful improvements to the platform’s chat organisation in recent years.
