WhatsApp gets a Liquid Glass makeover for iOS 26

WhatsApp is quietly giving its iPhone app a major facelift, rolling out a fresh design inspired by Apple’s “Liquid Glass” aesthetic to some lucky users. It represents one of the biggest stylistic shifts years, moving the app away from an interface that has remained largely unchanged for a long time.

Your chats are about to get a whole lot fancier

The new look helps familiarise WhatsApp with Apple’s latest design system, which became a centrepiece of iOS 26. The most dramatic change is the app’s tab bar. It now sports a translucent, layered texture that cleverly reacts to the colours and motion of your background wallpaper.

This creates a subtle yet sophisticated frosted glass effect that feels both modern and also more integrated with the overall system’s look.

This visual treat is being bundled into WhatsApp version 25.28.75. While the Liquid Glass design is the main event, the update also packs in other welcome features. You can now finally use Live Photos within the app. The update also introduces on-device translation for your text messages and handy writing suggestions to help you craft the perfect reply.

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If your app still looks exactly the same, then do know that the new look is rolling out in stages. WhatsApp has a massive global user base, so it tends to roll out major updates very carefully to avoid widespread chaos or server-side meltdowns.

For now, only those running the latest version have a chance of seeing it. If you’re eager for that glassy new look, just keep your app updated and hang tight.