WhatsApp may soon show when someone is online with a green dot
WhatsApp is expanding testing of a new online status indicator, bringing a feature long associated with messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and Discord to iPhone users. It will now show a green dot next to the user’s profile to indicate that they’re online. After first appearing in Android beta builds last month, the green dot is now being tested in WhatsApp’s iOS beta, according to WABetaInfo.
WhatsApp green dot status indicator
First spotted by WABetainfo, this feature is available in WhatsApp for iOS beta version 26.26.10.72. This feature essentially adds a small green dot to the bottom-right corner of a contact’s profile picture when they’re actively online. The indicator updates in real time, disappearing as soon as the person goes offline.
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For now, the implementation is fairly limited. The green dot only appears on the Contact Info page that opens when you tap a user’s profile photo, rather than in the chat list or conversation view, where it would be far more useful. By comparison, competing messaging apps typically surface online indicators directly in chat lists, making it easier to know who’s available before opening a conversation.
Privacy remains unchanged despite the visual addition. The green dot follows the same visibility rules as WhatsApp’s existing “Last Seen & Online” settings. If a user has chosen to hide their online status, the indicator won’t appear for others, ensuring the feature doesn’t reveal any information that isn’t already shared through current privacy controls.
The rollout is currently limited to select beta testers on both Android and iOS, with no official timeline for a wider release. As is often the case with WhatsApp beta features, broader availability will depend on user feedback and testing before Meta decides on a stable rollout.
If you’re interested in trying the feature early, joining the WhatsApp beta program on Android or Apple’s TestFlight program for iOS is your best option, although beta slots are often limited. For everyone else, it’s worth waiting for the stable release, especially since the current implementation offers limited practical value compared to what rival messaging apps already provide.
