WhatsApp is adding a new feature that deals with a very familiar group chat problem — people joining late and everyone else having to catch them up. The company has started rolling out the Group Message History feature, and is also testing a Scheduled Messages feature in beta, another very valuable update.
Group Message History is meant for moments when someone new joins and asks others to bring them up to speed. Instead of screenshots and long recaps, admins will be able to share recent messages directly. They can choose to send the last 25, 50, 75, or 100 messages so new members can see what’s already been discussed.
WhatsApp says this was one of its most requested features. The shared messages stay end-to-end encrypted, and admins can switch the feature off if they don’t want older conversations resurfacing. The whole group is notified when history is shared, which should prevent confusion about who saw what.
For everyday users, this will make large family groups, school updates, and housing chats easier to manage, especially when members change often. For businesses and community admins, it removes the need to keep reposting the same details about offers, events, or rules. Apps like Telegram and Discord already handle chat history more smoothly for new members, so this brings WhatsApp closer to that experience without changing its privacy approach.
WhatsApp is also working on Scheduled Messages, which is not live yet. The feature, spotted in an iOS beta build, would let users write a message, pick a date and time, and have it sent automatically. Scheduled posts would appear in a dedicated section where they can be reviewed or deleted before they go out. Early previews show it in group chats, and it will likely extend to individual chats if it rolls out.
If it launches, Scheduled Messages could be useful for birthday wishes, rent reminders, or timed announcements for sales and events. For now, it remains under development, and there’s no confirmation it will reach all users.
