WhatsApp has officially begun the rollout of a long-requested feature: Group Message History. Designed to eliminate the “fresh start” awkwardness for new members, the platform now allows group admins and authorized members to share a snapshot of recent conversations with newly added participants.
This update represents a significant shift in WhatsApp’s group dynamics, moving closer to the functionality seen in competitors like Telegram, while maintaining its hallmark end-to-end encryption. The feature is currently rolling out to both Android and iOS users globally.
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Group Message History: Bridging the Context Gap
Until now, a new member entering a WhatsApp group would see a blank screen, missing out on crucial context from ongoing discussions. The new feature allows a “single tap” transfer of recent history during the invitation process. WhatsApp emphasizes that this is a transparency-first feature. When history is shared:
Every member of the group receives a notification.
The notification includes clear timestamps and sender information.
Shared messages are visually distinct from regular messages to avoid confusion.
How it Works: The “100 Bubble” Limit
The feature does not share the entire history of a group. Instead, it is limited to “bubbles” (individual messages) rather than days. Users can select a specific volume of history to share:
Options: 25, 50, 75, or 100 recent bubbles.
Encryption: WhatsApp confirms that these transferred messages remain end-to-end encrypted throughout the process.
Once added, the new participant will see a label indicating the date and time from which their history begins. This ensures that while the new member gets up to speed, the privacy of very old conversations remains protected.
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Video Calling Finally Hits WhatsApp Web
Beyond group chats, WhatsApp is finally addressing a major gap in its browser-based experience. Native video calling support is now being tested in the WhatsApp Web beta for browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. Historically, users had to download the standalone desktop app for Windows or macOS to access calling features. This upcoming update means that users on Linux or managed office computers (where app installations are restricted) will soon be able to join video calls directly through their browser.
Reality Check
WhatsApp says the history is limited to “100 bubbles.” Still, 100 messages can be consumed in minutes in a high-activity group. Therefore, the “context” provided is relatively shallow for groups that have been active for years. In fact, if you are added to a group that discusses sensitive topics, the admin’s power to “selectively share” history could lead to a skewed perception of past events.
The Loopholes
The feature relies on the person adding the member to decide whether to share history. In fact, if an admin adds a new member without toggling the “Share History” option, it cannot be retroactively shared later for that specific user. Therefore, the “context bridge” is a one-time opportunity during the addition phase. Still, the transparency notification serves as a vital safeguard, preventing clandestine history sharing that the rest of the group might not be aware of.
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What This Means for You
If you are a community manager or group admin, this feature is your new best friend for onboarding. First, ensure your app is updated to the latest version to see the history-sharing prompt. Then, consider a “100 bubble” share when adding important stakeholders so they don’t have to ask for a recap of the morning’s decisions.
Finally, realize that the WhatsApp Web video calling beta is a major privacy shift. You should be aware of your browser’s microphone and camera permissions, as “accidental calls” on a large monitor can be more intrusive than on a mobile screen. Before you join a call on the web, check if your browser version is supported; older versions of Firefox may still struggle with the WebRTC protocol required for these calls.
What’s Next
Group Message History is gradually rolling out and should reach all users by late February 2026. Then, the video calling feature is expected to exit beta and reach the stable version of WhatsApp Web by late March. Finally, look for a new “Group Archive” feature that may allow admins to store older history in a searchable “library” for long-term reference.
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