WhatsApp has been known for allowing users to disable read receipts completely. However, for those who opt to keep them on, Android users previously lacked a straightforward method to view messages without notifying the sender. While iPhone users have enjoyed this feature for some time, it seems that Android users will soon share the same benefit.
On iOS, users can simply long-press a chat to reveal a pop-up displaying recent messages without triggering the blue ticks. Unfortunately, this preview window does not scroll, making it challenging to view longer messages or multiple texts. In contrast, when Android users long-press a chat, the current functionality only selects the conversation and displays options for pinning, archiving, muting, or deleting it.
Upcoming Chat Previews on Android
Recent findings from a teardown of WhatsApp beta version 2.26.44.12 indicate that the app is developing a similar chat preview feature for Android. Users will soon be able to long-press a conversation to access a floating card showcasing the latest messages along with a refreshed context menu below it.
This new method allows users to peek at conversations without sending read receipts. Moreover, unlike the iOS version, Android users will be able to scroll through older messages within the preview window without alerting the sender.
Although this feature is still under development and not yet accessible to public beta testers, its arrival would align the Android app more closely with its iOS counterpart. As with many features discovered in teardowns, the timeline for its release remains uncertain, but there is hope that it will make its way to the stable version of the app.
