WhatsApp moves its online status front and center with a new Contacts Tab on iPhone that turns the messaging hub into a live directory of friends.
The update arrives on the latest iOS beta, taking the bottom navigation spot previously occupied by Communities and placing favorite and recently active contacts at the top of the screen.
Users can sort the list by activity, alphabetical order or upcoming birthdays, with online friends marked first by a green indicator. Privacy rules remain in effect, so activity information only appears if a contact allows it.
TestFlight users on iOS 26.44.10.70 are seeing the shift now, though a public release date remains unclear and the feature is also arriving on Android without a timeline.