WhatsApp Rolls Out Green Dot for Online Contacts on iOS Beta

WhatsApp is introducing a new way for iPhone users to see when their contacts are active on the app. According to WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS adds a small green dot that appears next to the profile photos of contacts when they are online.

The new feature is currently available to some users running WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.26.10.72 through Apple’s TestFlight program. The rollout is gradual, so more beta testers are expected to receive it over the coming weeks.

WhatsApp Rolls Out Green Dot for Online Contacts on iOS Beta

The green dot indicates whether a contact is currently active on WhatsApp before sending a message. Instead of relying on the text-based “Online” status, users will now see a small green indicator in the contact’s profile photo whenever that person is using the app. The indicator disappears as soon as the contact goes offline, providing a real-time view of their availability.

At the moment, the green dot only appears in the chat info screen, which users can access by tapping on a contact’s name at the top of a conversation. It is not yet visible in the chat list or inside the main conversation window. This suggests WhatsApp is introducing the feature gradually before expanding it to other parts of the app.

Privacy remains an important part of the new feature. The green dot will only be visible for contacts who have chosen to share their online status. If someone has hidden their last seen and online information through WhatsApp’s privacy settings, the green indicator will not appear. This ensures users continue to have full control over who can see when they are active.

The feature first appeared on the Android beta version of WhatsApp last month and is now making its way to iOS. Both versions work in the same way, offering users a quicker visual indication of whether someone is currently online.

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The addition of the green dot could also be linked to another feature that WhatsApp is reportedly developing—a dedicated Contacts hub. The upcoming section is expected to show contacts who are currently online or were recently active. The green indicator is likely to become an important part of that experience by helping users quickly identify available contacts.

Although the indicator is currently limited to the chat info page, it may eventually expand to other areas of the app, including the chat list, conversation screen, and future contacts section. A phased rollout allows users to become familiar with the feature before it appears more widely across the application.

For now, the green dot is available to select beta testers using the latest TestFlight version of WhatsApp for iOS. Some users on the stable App Store version may also receive it as part of limited testing. However, WhatsApp has not yet confirmed when the feature will be released to all users worldwide.