WhatsApp has finalized the location of the navigation bar for its Android app. The relocated feature essentially offers the same tabs such as Chats, Status, Communities, and Calls, but users can easily swipe the navigation bar to view these tabs, in addition to tapping.
Keeping in line with Google’s Material Design guidelines, Meta has now settled on a new and eye-catching navigation bar. The company is also testing AI chat suggestions with a few beta testers.
WhatsApp Navigation Bar will reside at the bottom
Ever since WhatsApp introduced the concept of tabs, it has kept the ability to switch between them at the top of the screen. It began with the Calls tab, which was quickly followed by the Status tab. WhatsApp started offering a “Communities” tab in 2022.
WhatsApp users could switch between these tabs quite easily using the navigation bar located at the top of the app. However, Meta claims it has moved the ability to switch between these tabs per Google’s Material Design guidelines.
WhatsApp has been testing the new navigation bar design for about a year now. Beta testers witnessed Meta adding and then removing the revamped navigation bar multiple times.
android friends, we moved some things around to make it easier to access what you need, when you need it
meet your new navigation tools 🤝 closer to your thumbs and easy on the eyes pic.twitter.com/CqLvZf9meo
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) March 28, 2024
Interestingly, WhatsApp deployed the new navigation bar on the primary devices the app was originally registered on. The instant messaging app on “linked” Android smartphones continued to offer the old navigation bar.
However, moving forward, all devices that have the WhatsApp app will offer the new swipeable navigation bar located at the bottom. WhatsApp won’t allow moving the new tab bar. In other words, it will remain pinned to the bottom of the screen.
WhatsApp testing a reordered bottom navigation bar.
Now the status tab is more reachable with thumbs. pic.twitter.com/47zm7UfNni
— Saadh Jawwadh (@SaadhJawwadh) May 27, 2023
Although the new WhatsApp navigation bar features four tabs including Chats, Updates, Communities, and Calls, it is quite different from the old layout. Each tab now has equal prominence and space. The old tab bar had a small tab for Communities, while Chats, Status, and Calls, had bigger tabs.
It appears WhatsApp is trying to prioritize Communities. This tab allows users to organize and consolidate groups in a single space. A three-person icon represents this tab in the old and the new navigation bar.
WhatsApp testing AI chat suggestions
The new bottom-located navigation bar is now mandatory for all WhatsApp users. However, the instant messaging platform is reportedly testing a new automated chatting assistant with a few beta testers.
In its current form, the new experimental feature is suggesting contacts WhatsApp users can talk to. The new feature is located at the bottom of the list of active chats.
