WhatsApp rolls out Android beta widget for voice messages and revamps Info section

WhatsApp is testing a new Android home‑screen widget that lets users record and send voice messages without opening a chat. Detected in the beta build 2.26.24.2, the widget appears as a 3×1 tile that can be resized, starts recording with a tap, and then allows selection of one or multiple recipients. The feature is still under development and has not been released to the public.

In a separate beta update (version 2.26.24.1), WhatsApp has overhauled the Info section. The redesign adds a preview at the top of the screen showing how contacts see the user’s Info, and introduces controls for message duration (options range from 1 hour to 1 week or a custom time) and visibility (All contacts, specific contacts, contacts except… or None). Both changes are currently available only in the Android beta program and will take time before reaching stable releases.