WhatsApp has revamped its About feature and launched a new Notes-like feature, letting you share quick, playful, and interactive updates with friends. These updates give users multiple ways to express what they’re up to without sending long messages.
WhatsApp About
About is WhatsApp’s original feature for sharing your status. Even before secure messaging became a standard for WhatsApp, About allowed users to communicate what’s happening in their lives with a simple phrase or emoji.
The updated About is now more visible, interactive, and customizable with the following features:
- Spotlight Placement: Appears at the top of 1‑on‑1 chats and on your profile.
- Quick Replies: Tap someone’s About to reply directly in chat.
- Custom Timers: By default, About expires after 24 hours, but users can choose a shorter or longer duration via Settings > Set About.
- Privacy Controls: Share About only with contacts or make it more widely visible using your privacy settings.
The revamp allows About to adapt to your availability, letting friends know whether you’re free to chat or prefer some space, all with just an emoji or short phrase.
Introducing WhatsApp Notes
Building on the About revamp, WhatsApp now has Notes, a new Instagram Notes-like feature for brief, casual updates. Notes are designed for instant sharing and ephemeral communication, which makes it perfect for expressing your mood, activity, or thoughts at a glance.
Friends can reply directly within the chat, making interactions seamless and engaging. Notes also provide custom visibility options, allowing users to share updates with all contacts, selected friends, or a close circle.
True to their ephemeral nature, Notes disappear after 24 hours, although users can adjust the timing to suit their preferences. This update enables fast and casual communication, letting users share status updates without typing a full message.
Privacy remains a priority, with users having full control over who sees their updates and how long they remain visible. The revamped About feature and Notes are rolling out globally on mobile devices starting this week.
Users can access About at the top of 1‑on‑1 chats and their profile, while Notes appear in the DM section for quick, text-based updates.
