Liquid Glass comes to WhatsApp on iOS
WhatsApp is embracing Apple’s newest visual direction with a Liquid Glass-inspired redesign tailored for the iOS 26 interface update. Early findings from WABetaInfo show the new look arriving in WhatsApp for iOS version 25.28.75, where Meta is experimenting with transparency, depth, and more fluid interactions. Instead of a flat, utilitarian interface, the app now leans into glass-like overlays and layered visuals that echo Apple’s own UI evolution. The goal is to modernize WhatsApp’s appearance while preserving its familiar layout and navigation, so long-time users don’t feel lost. This shift also signals a broader strategy: major apps are tuning their interfaces to feel more “native” within Apple’s evolving ecosystem. For WhatsApp, that means a cleaner, more immersive messaging experience that visually aligns with the system-level aesthetics users will see across iOS 26.
Translucent tabs and a reimagined bottom bar
One of the most noticeable changes in the WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign is the updated bottom navigation bar. Instead of an opaque strip, users see a semi-transparent surface that subtly blurs chat content underneath, creating a floating, glass-like effect. This is where WhatsApp translucent tabs stand out: icons sit on a frosted layer, and the active tab indicator dynamically morphs to match the selected icon. Tapping each tab now triggers smoother, more responsive animations, reinforcing the illusion of depth and motion within the interface. These effects apply in both light and dark modes, with WhatsApp adjusting transparency and background treatment to suit each theme. Combined with softer depth cues and refined navigation styling, the bottom bar becomes a key showcase of how closely WhatsApp is mirroring Apple’s Liquid Glass design language while still retaining its signature tab layout.
Keyboard, buttons, and menus adopt Apple’s design cues
Beyond the tabs, WhatsApp is aligning deeper elements of its UI with Apple design language messaging principles. The app now adopts the native iOS 26 keyboard style, giving the typing experience a translucent, reflective appearance that responds subtly to the chat background. Buttons throughout the interface have been refreshed with semi-translucent surfaces and smoother tap animations, replacing flatter, more static controls. Context menus follow the same philosophy, using glass-like panels and layered transparency to look more modern and coherent with the rest of the system. These tweaks move WhatsApp away from a purely functional aesthetic toward something more premium and immersive. While the chat bar still carries remnants of the older flat design, the cumulative effect across keyboard, buttons, and menus makes the app feel more integrated with Apple’s overarching Liquid Glass visual language.
A gradual rollout and what it means for users
Although the WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign is already visible in version 25.28.75, the experience is far from universal. Meta is enabling the updated interface gradually, even for users who install the latest App Store build. This staggered rollout allows the company to monitor stability, gather feedback, and refine visual details before committing to a broader release. Some UI elements, such as the chat bar, still retain parts of the older flat design, suggesting the makeover is a work in progress rather than a finished overhaul. For users who do receive the update, the redesign represents an effort to make WhatsApp feel more polished and in step with the iOS 26 interface update—especially on devices where transparency and depth effects shine. Over time, the app is likely to evolve further as Meta fine-tunes how closely it tracks Apple’s Liquid Glass design trajectory.