WhatsApp rolls out group message history feature with enhanced privacy controls

WhatsApp has announced a new update aimed at improving the experience of joining active group chats. The platform is introducing a feature called Group Message History, designed to make onboarding smoother by giving new members better context without disrupting ongoing conversations. The change focuses on improving continuity while maintaining the privacy standards users expect.

Group Message History explained and how it works

The Group Message History feature allows admins and members to share selected recent messages with someone who has just joined a group. Earlier, new participants could only view messages sent after they joined, often leading to confusion or requiring others to manually forward chats.

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With this update, users can choose to send between 25 and 100 recent messages, ensuring that newcomers receive enough context without accessing the entire conversation archive. The action is optional and must be initiated manually, giving groups flexibility depending on their preferences.

WhatsApp has emphasised that privacy remains unchanged, as the shared message history stays protected by end-to-end encryption. All participants are notified whenever message history is shared, and the transferred chats appear visually different from regular messages to maintain transparency. Group administrators can disable the feature if required, although they retain the ability to share message history themselves.

Rollout details

The feature is currently rolling out gradually across Android and iOS devices, meaning availability may vary depending on region and app version. Users are advised to update to the latest version to access the functionality once it becomes available.

This update addresses a long-standing challenge in group communication by replacing informal workarounds such as screenshots and manual summaries with a structured, secure method. As group chats increasingly serve as spaces for work coordination, communities, and family discussions, the ability to quickly provide context without overwhelming new members could make conversations more organised and easier to follow.

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