WhatsApp, the most popular encrypted instant messaging app with over two billion users worldwide, is testing a new design for its overflow menu options in the latest beta version of its Android app. The overflow menu, which contains various settings and features that are not displayed on the main screen, will now have icons next to each option, making it easier and faster for users to access them.
The overflow menu is accessed by tapping on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner of the app’s user interface (UI). It has four core tabs dedicated to Communities, Chats, Updates, and Calls, and every other item, including conversation-specific options, are accessible through the overflow menu. Some of the options in the overflow menu are New group, New broadcast, Linked devices, Starred messages, and Settings, while in-conversation menu items include View contact, Search, Mute notifications, and a toggle for Disappearing messages.
Until now, both these menus only used text to label the options, which could be tedious and confusing for some users, especially those who are not fluent in the language of the app. However, according to WABetaInfo, a reliable source of WhatsApp news and features, version 2.23.21.12 of the app is now beta testing icons for this overflow menu. The screenshots shared by WABetaInfo show simplistic line art corresponding to every option in the menu, with the icon preceding the text. For example, the New group option has an icon of two people and a plus sign, while the Linked devices option has an icon of a smartphone and a laptop.
WABetaInfo only shows us the overflow menu for conversations, so we are not sure if the general overflow menu will receive similar treatment. In any case, the icons make the list more accessible and intuitive to use. Users should be able to identify menu items at a glance, and access them a little quicker. This is a welcome change for WhatsApp, which has been criticized for its outdated and boring UI on Android, compared to its rivals like Telegram and Signal, which offer more customization and features.
The new icons are rolling out to some beta testers already, with a wider beta rollout on the cards. We hope the wait is not too long before we see this intuitive new menu style on the stable channel too. This is not the only UI improvement that WhatsApp is working on, as it is also reportedly testing a new chat bubble design, a redesigned voice message player, and a dark splash screen. These changes may not seem revolutionary, but they are part of WhatsApp’s efforts to modernize its app and keep up with the changing preferences and expectations of its users.
WhatsApp, which was acquired by Meta (formerly Facebook) in 2014 for $19 billion, has been adding new features and functional changes to its app over the years, such as end-to-end encryption, voice and video calls, stickers, animated GIFs, and disappearing messages. However, it has not made any significant visual changes to its app, which still looks similar to how it did 10 years ago. Some users may prefer the simplicity and familiarity of WhatsApp’s UI, but others may find it dull and outdated, and may switch to other apps that offer more variety and innovation.
WhatsApp is also facing challenges from the growing concerns over its privacy and security, especially after it announced a controversial update to its terms of service and privacy policy earlier this year, which would allow it to share more data with Meta and its other services. The update sparked a backlash from users and regulators, and prompted many to migrate to alternative apps like Telegram and Signal, which are more privacy-focused and independent. WhatsApp later clarified that the update would not affect the privacy of personal chats and calls, and delayed its implementation until May 15, 2021. However, the damage was already done, as WhatsApp lost millions of users and its reputation as a secure and trustworthy app.
WhatsApp is still the dominant player in the instant messaging market, but it cannot afford to rest on its laurels and ignore the changing needs and demands of its users. It needs to constantly improve and innovate its app, both in terms of functionality and design, to maintain its edge and loyalty. The new icons for the overflow menu are a small but positive step in this direction, and we hope to see more such changes in the future.