WhatsApp tests a filter that shows chats where you were tagged

WhatsApp is testing a new filter that shows only the chats where someone tagged you or replied to one of your messages. If you are in busy group chats, it could end the scrolling needed to find the one question aimed at you.

What changed

The filter sits at the top of the Chats tab, next to Unread, Favourites and Groups. Tap it and the list shrinks to conversations with a mention or reply for you. A badge shows how many chats are waiting. If there is nothing pending, you see an empty screen with a link back to the full chat list.

It also covers communities. Group chats inside a community show up if anyone mentions you or responds to you.

The key difference from notifications is that a notification disappears once you open the app. The filter stays, even after your notifications are cleared.

Who can try it and what is unknown

WABetaInfo, a site that tracks WhatsApp changes, spotted the filter rolling out to some Android beta testers in version 2.26.42.12 on the Google Play Store. A beta is an early test version of an app. The feature first appeared in beta 2.26.34.4 under the name "To You".

It turns on automatically once it reaches your account, but it is optional. You can switch it off in the app settings, or move it into the "More" section to keep the Chats tab uncluttered. The material does not say when the filter will reach everyone or whether it is coming to iPhone.