If you missed the launch, whatsApp’s design refresh is starting to take shape, but it’s still not something you can actually use yet. A new report from WABetaInfo shows a reworked chat screen, building on the smaller visual changes some people began noticing towards the end of 2025.

The earlier changes hinted at a softer, layered look, loosely in line with the “Liquid Glass” style Apple has been rolling out on iOS. This latest preview takes that a step further and brings those changes into the main chat interface.

Key visual changes

The most noticeable change is the message bar. Instead of sitting flush at the bottom, it now floats slightly above it. It’s a small change, but it changes how the screen feels when you are typing or scrolling through chats. There is also a translucent navigation bar, which lets more of the chat wallpaper show through. The overall effect is a lighter, less rigid interface. It does not look drastically different at first glance, but if you use WhatsApp often, you should notice it.

Nothing has been moved around too much. Chats, buttons, and controls are still where you expect them to be. It’s more of a visual clean-up than a redesign that forces you to relearn things.

How to get the Liquid Glass design

Right now, you cannot get it organically. Even people on the latest beta builds do not have access to this interface. WABetaInfo was able to turn it on manually, which usually means it is still being tested behind the scenes. That also means there is no setting or update you can install to try it early. When WhatsApp does start rolling it out, it will likely show up for a small group of beta people first, before expanding further.

Rollout status

Should you be waiting for this to land soon, it might take a while. WhatsApp has been slow with design changes in the past, and this looks no different. Even the smaller UI tweaks spotted last year have not reached everyone yet. Compared to apps like Telegram or iMessage, which tend to push visual updates more quickly, WhatsApp moves carefully. The upside is fewer disruptions. The downside is you wait longer to see anything new.

In terms of daily use, nothing really changes in what the app does. Messaging, calls, and sharing remain the same. The floating chat bar could make one-handed typing slightly easier on larger phones, and the translucent elements just make the interface feel a bit more modern. There is no confirmed timeline yet. Going by how WhatsApp usually rolls things out, this will likely arrive in stages, first through beta and then gradually for everyone else.