Search results for

All search results
Best daily deals

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

WhatsApp to get handy 'mark as read' and 'mute' shortcuts in notification shade

These WhatsApp additions wouldn't be the biggest features to hit the app this year, but they should be useful nonetheless.
By

Published onJuly 13, 2018

A WhatsApp app icon closeup on a smartphone.
TL;DR
  • WhatsApp is adding a ‘mark as read’ and ‘mute’ option for messages in the notification shade.
  • The feature hasn’t appeared in the latest Play Store beta just yet, but we expect it to launch in the near future.
  • The platform has seen several new features this year, including better group chat functionality and group calls.

WhatsApp has gained quite a few features in 2018 already, from new group chat controls to hiding media from your gallery. The messaging platform isn’t done for the year though, because it’s gaining two tiny but useful features, according to WABetaInfo.

The outlet reports that a ‘mark as read’ shortcut is in the works for the notification shade. This button will live alongside the in-line reply button, allowing you to quickly give an incoming message those two blue ticks for the sender’s convenience.

Mark as read functionality in WhatsApp.

The website also spotted a ‘mute’ shortcut, letting you quickly silence a contact or group via the notification shade too. The current way to mute a contact/group is to press and hold on the chat in question, then tap the resulting mute icon at the top.

We’re not seeing either feature in the latest WhatsApp beta version from the Play Store ourselves, but we’re expecting it in the coming weeks. These aren’t the biggest WhatsApp additions by any measure, but they’re in keeping with the steady stream of improvements and features we’ve seen on the platform this year.

10 best messenger apps and chat apps for Android
Software lists
send whatsapp message without saving contact siri shortcut running

The past year has seen WhatsApp add more robust administrator controls, group calls, and the ability to automatically hide media from your phone gallery. The company has also been dabbling in the mobile payments space, reportedly testing a payments feature in India.

Are there any specific WhatsApp features you’d like to see in the future? Let us know in the comments section!

You might like