WhatsApp is testing a new green indicator on iPhone to show when a contact is actively using the app. Unlike the existing ”last seen” status, this dot signals that the person is currently online. Facebook Messenger and Instagram users have long had similar live presence indicators, but WhatsApp’s iOS beta version 26.26.10.72 is the first to bring it to Apple devices.
Right now, the green dot appears only inside individual contact cards, a spot users rarely check before messaging. Most people scan their chat list, meaning many won’t notice the indicator hidden inside a contact’s profile. If WhatsApp doesn’t move the dot elsewhere, this addition risks going unnoticed.
This update fits WhatsApp’s evolving approach to online privacy. In 2022, the company introduced settings to fully hide your online status. Now, it seems WhatsApp wants to add a clearer, more immediate way to display live activity, layered on those existing preferences. With over 3 billion monthly users globally, even small UI tweaks like this affect a massive audience.
The logical next step would be to bring the green activity dot to the main chat list or create a dedicated contacts section for quick visibility. Within Meta’s ecosystem, rivals like Messenger and Instagram have long used these indicators front and center. If this iPhone beta gains traction, WhatsApp is unlikely to keep the green dot tucked away inside contact cards for long.
Note: Meta is the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. It is designated as an extremist organization and banned in Russia.