WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is rolling out floating notifications for its Android app, aiming to boost multitasking by letting users read and reply to messages without leaving their current screen. This new feature, compatible with Android 10 and newer, is currently in testing and could soon become a standard part of the app.
The tip comes from WABetaInfo, a well-known source for WhatsApp leaks. Floating notifications work similarly to Facebook Messenger’s chat heads: when a message arrives, a small window pops up over other apps. Users can tap this bubble to open a mini chat interface, keeping conversations accessible without fully launching WhatsApp.
The notifications display the contact or group’s profile picture alongside a WhatsApp icon, clearly identifying the message source. This compact window lets users read and send replies on the fly, without interrupting whatever else they’re doing-whether watching videos or browsing other apps.
For comparison, while Android has offered chat bubbles since Android 11 through the system’s own UI, WhatsApp’s built-in floating notifications promise a more integrated experience tailored specifically to WhatsApp messaging. They bring WhatsApp closer to native chat features seen in competitors such as Facebook Messenger and Samsung Messages.
The feature is still under development, with no confirmed launch date yet. Early access will likely be limited to beta testers before reaching the wider Android user base.
Note: Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is designated an extremist organization in Russia, which means its services, including WhatsApp, are banned in that country.