WhatsApp tests a Contacts tab that replaces Communities

WhatsApp is testing a new Contacts tab on Android beta. It takes the spot of the Communities tab in the bottom bar. The idea is simple: see who is online and reach your favorite people faster. Only a few beta testers have it so far, and WhatsApp has not said when it will reach everyone.

What changed

The news comes from WABetaInfo, a site that tracks test versions of WhatsApp. A beta is an early version given to a small group of testers before a wider release. In this test, the Contacts tab sits in the bottom navigation bar, where Communities used to be. At the top is a Favourites section that shows contacts you have pinned. Your full contacts list sits below it.

How the list works

You can sort the list three ways: by name, by birthday or by activity. Pick activity and people who are online move to the top with a green dot next to their names. Offline contacts are listed by when they were last seen. This only shows for contacts who share their last seen and online status, so privacy settings still apply.

The report lists a few extras in the new tab:

• A shortcut to chat with Meta AI sits at the bottom and always shows as online with a green dot.
• Options to share invite links in other apps, including a way to invite Instagram followers to WhatsApp.
• A button at the bottom right adds a contact with a first name, last name, username and phone number.
• Contacts with a phone number can also sync with your phone's address book.

Why Communities moved

WhatsApp had already added a Communities filter to the chat list. That means a separate Communities tab was no longer needed. Putting Contacts in its place could help people find who is online without opening each chat one by one.

What happens next

WhatsApp is testing different layouts. Some users already have a tab for Meta AI, so the Contacts tab may look different for them. After more testing, the feature is expected to reach all users through an update on the Google Play Store. Until WhatsApp confirms it, the details remain a report, not an official announcement.