WhatsApp may be preparing another major change to the way its main screen looks and works. The popular messaging platform is reportedly testing a new layout that could move Channels from the Updates tab to the Chats tab. At the same time, the existing Updates section may be renamed or replaced with a Contacts section.
If introduced widely, this change could make WhatsApp feel more focused on personal communication rather than a mix of private messages, Status updates, and Channels. It may also make it easier for users to find the people and conversations they interact with most.
WhatsApp has been adding new features at a fast pace in recent years. Channels, Status, Communities, group tools, privacy controls, and several AI-related features have all changed the way people use the app. However, the company also appears to be reviewing how these features are arranged so that the main interface remains simple.
The latest reported change suggests that WhatsApp could separate personal communication from content discovery in a different way.
WhatsApp May Change Its Main Tabs
For many users, WhatsApp’s current navigation is familiar. The app generally provides separate areas for Chats, Updates, and Calls, with other sections and features available from within the app.
The Updates tab currently combines two different types of content. Users can view Status updates shared by their contacts and also browse WhatsApp Channels. Channels allow people, businesses, organisations, celebrities, and other public figures to share updates with followers.
While the feature gives WhatsApp more options beyond private messaging, it also means that the Updates section has become a busy part of the application.
The reported redesign could change this setup. Instead of keeping Channels inside Updates, WhatsApp may move them directly into the Chats area. Meanwhile, the Updates tab could be replaced with a Contacts section.
This would represent a noticeable change in how users access different parts of the platform.
Channels Could Become Part of Chats
WhatsApp introduced Channels to give users a simple way to follow public updates. Unlike normal chats, Channels are generally one-way communication spaces where administrators can publish messages to followers.
Users can follow channels covering different subjects, including news, sports, entertainment, technology, businesses, and public figures.
At present, Channels are linked closely with the Updates section. However, the reported test suggests WhatsApp may want to bring them closer to the Chats experience.
Moving Channels to the Chats tab could make the feature easier to reach. Instead of asking users to switch to Updates whenever they want to see channel content, WhatsApp could place these updates alongside their regular conversations.
There is also a practical reason for such a change. Many people open WhatsApp mainly to communicate with friends, family, colleagues, and groups. Having Channels in the same general area could give users quicker access to all their conversations and followed channels from one place.
However, this could also make the Chats tab more crowded.
What Could Happen to the Updates Tab?
The bigger question is what WhatsApp plans to do with the existing Updates tab.
Reports suggest that the company may replace Updates with a Contacts section. If this happens, users could get a dedicated area for finding and managing people on WhatsApp.
Contacts are already an important part of the messaging experience, but they are not currently given the same level of space as chats and updates. A dedicated Contacts tab could make it easier to search for people, start a new conversation, and manage contact-related features.
The change could also show that WhatsApp is trying to put more focus on direct communication.
Instead of giving a complete tab to Status and Channels, WhatsApp may choose to give more room to contacts while moving Channels elsewhere.
It is important to remember that this change is reportedly being tested. WhatsApp often experiments with different designs and features before deciding whether they should be released to everyone.
A feature appearing in a test version does not automatically mean that every user will receive it.
Why WhatsApp May Be Considering This Change
WhatsApp has become much more than a basic messaging app. It is now used for personal conversations, group discussions, business communication, public updates, communities, payments in some markets, and other services.
As more features are added, keeping the interface simple becomes more difficult.
A user who only wants to send a message may not want to see several different sections every time they open the app. At the same time, users who enjoy Channels and Status need an easy way to access that content.
The possible redesign could be an attempt to find a better balance.
Moving Channels into Chats may allow WhatsApp to reduce the number of major tabs while giving users a central place for conversations and followed content. Replacing Updates with Contacts could also make it easier to find people without opening additional menus.
The exact reason behind the redesign is not confirmed, but the change would fit WhatsApp’s wider effort to keep improving its user interface.
A Different Way to Access Channels
For regular Channel followers, the proposed change could be useful.
Channels have become an important way for organisations and creators to reach large audiences. Instead of sending messages individually, an administrator can publish an update that reaches followers directly.
However, Channels are different from traditional chats. They do not work like normal conversations between two people.
If WhatsApp places Channels inside the Chats tab, the company will need to make sure the two types of communication remain easy to distinguish.
Users should be able to quickly tell whether they are looking at a private conversation, a group, or a Channel.
A well-designed layout could make this possible without creating confusion. WhatsApp could use separate sections, filters, icons, or other visual elements to keep everything organised.
The success of the change would depend heavily on how WhatsApp implements it.
Contacts Could Get More Attention
A dedicated Contacts section could also be useful for people who frequently start new conversations.
At present, WhatsApp users can usually find contacts through the search option or by tapping the button used to start a new chat. A separate Contacts tab could make this process more direct.
For example, users may be able to browse saved contacts, search for a person, and start a chat without first going through the Chats screen.
It could also provide a more natural place for contact-related tools in the future.
WhatsApp has been adding more features around profiles, usernames, business accounts, and communication tools. A dedicated Contacts area could provide space for these options as they develop.
Still, some users may prefer the current setup because it is familiar. Any major interface change can take time to get used to, especially for people who have been using WhatsApp for many years.
Status May Also See Changes
Another important part of the current Updates tab is Status.
WhatsApp Status works in a similar way to Stories on other social platforms. Users can share photos, videos, text, voice messages, and other updates that remain available for a limited period.
If Updates is replaced with Contacts, WhatsApp will also need to decide where Status should appear.
The company could keep Status inside another section, place it within Chats, or create another way to access it. At this stage, the exact arrangement is not clear.
This is one of the main details users will want to know if the redesign becomes official.
Status is used by millions of people, particularly for sharing everyday updates with friends and family. Removing easy access to Status would not make much sense, so WhatsApp will likely provide another clear location for it.
The Change Could Be Helpful for New Users
A simpler navigation system could be especially useful for people who are new to WhatsApp.
When an app has too many sections, new users may not immediately understand where each feature belongs. Combining related communication tools and creating a dedicated Contacts area could make the app easier to understand.
At the same time, experienced users may need some time to adjust.
WhatsApp has a very large user base, and even small interface changes can receive mixed reactions. Some people welcome a new design, while others prefer the layout they already know.
This is why WhatsApp usually tests major changes with a limited number of users before a wider rollout.
WhatsApp Continues to Test New Features
The possible Channels and Contacts redesign is part of a much wider pattern.
WhatsApp regularly tests new features through beta versions before making them available to the public. Some experiments are eventually released, while others are changed or dropped completely.
The company has previously tested changes involving privacy, media sharing, message management, Status, group controls, Channels, and the overall navigation system.
This testing process allows WhatsApp to collect feedback and identify problems before introducing a major change to its huge global user base.
The latest interface test should therefore be viewed as an early development rather than a confirmed final design.
What Users Should Expect
For now, WhatsApp users should not expect an immediate change.
The reported layout is still being tested, and there is no guarantee that the final version will look exactly the same. WhatsApp could change the position of Channels, keep the Updates tab, rename sections, or use an entirely different arrangement before releasing the feature.
If the company does move ahead with the plan, users could eventually see a navigation system where Chats becomes a more central location for both conversations and Channels, while Contacts receives its own dedicated space.
Status would also need to be placed somewhere that remains easy to access.
The final design will determine whether the change feels like an improvement or simply a different way of doing the same things.
Could This Make WhatsApp Easier to Use?
The proposed change has some clear advantages.
A stronger focus on Chats could make the app feel more like a messaging platform again. Channels would still remain available, but they could become part of the same wider communication area.
A dedicated Contacts section could also make it easier to find people and start conversations.
On the other hand, putting too many things inside Chats could make the screen feel crowded. Users who rarely use Channels may not want them mixed with their private messages.
WhatsApp will therefore need to pay close attention to the design.
The company has a large and varied user base. Some people use WhatsApp only for family chats, while others rely on it for work, business, news, groups, and public Channels. A successful interface needs to work for all of these users.
Final Thoughts
WhatsApp may be preparing a noticeable change to its main navigation system by moving Channels to the Chats tab and replacing the current Updates section with a Contacts tab.
The idea could make personal communication easier to access while giving Contacts a more important place in the app. It could also provide a new way for users to reach Channels without keeping them inside a separate Updates area.
However, the reported design is still in testing. WhatsApp has not confirmed that this exact layout will become available to everyone.
For now, users should treat the change as an experimental feature rather than a confirmed update. If WhatsApp decides to release it, more details about Status, Channels, Contacts, and the final tab arrangement are likely to become clear.
With WhatsApp continuing to add new services and features, changes to its interface are expected. The main challenge for the company will be keeping the app simple while giving users quick access to everything they need.
If this new layout is released, it could mark another step in WhatsApp’s effort to make its growing list of features easier to manage from a single app.
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