WhatsApp tests Android widget for instant voice messages

WhatsApp is trialing a new widget for Android that lets users record and send voice messages directly from the home screen. The beta feature reduces the steps needed to open the app, start a chat, and press the record button, allowing a single tap to begin recording and an easy selection of recipients before sending.

In addition, WhatsApp already includes a hidden self‑chat function that lets users create a private conversation with themselves. By selecting their own number or adding a contact with their own phone number, users can store notes, photos, links, voice memos and files in a dedicated chat, using it as a quick personal notebook or a bridge for transferring files between devices.

Both features aim to streamline frequent actions within the messaging platform, though no official release date for the widget has been announced and the self‑chat tip is already available to users.