What Is WhatsApp’s Liquid Glass Redesign?
WhatsApp is rolling out a major visual refresh on iPhone that closely follows Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 interface update. Often referred to as the WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign, this new look focuses on transparency, layered depth, and smoother motion across the app. Instead of a flat, purely functional interface, the chat app now experiments with glass-like overlays and semi-transparent components that subtly reveal the content beneath. The goal is to keep WhatsApp’s familiar layout while making it feel more premium, polished, and native to Apple’s latest design direction. Early testing is happening in WhatsApp beta for iOS version 25.28.75, with the design gradually arriving via the App Store. For users, the change is less about new chat features and more about how the interface feels in everyday use, especially on newer OLED displays where depth and blur effects really stand out.
Visual Changes: Translucent Tabs, Buttons, and Menus
The most noticeable change in the WhatsApp new design is the bottom navigation bar. It now sits on a semi-transparent surface that gently blurs whatever is behind it, creating a floating effect that matches iOS 26’s Liquid Glass aesthetic. Icons animate more fluidly when tapped, and the active tab indicator shifts dynamically to align with the selected icon. This effect works in both light and dark themes, with transparency and background blur tuned to each mode. Beyond the translucent tabs WhatsApp is also revamping buttons throughout the app with semi-translucent surfaces and smoother tap responses. Context menus get the same glass-like treatment, adopting layered visuals and adaptive transparency so they feel more integrated with the rest of the interface. Collectively, these tweaks make the app feel less rigid and more like a natural extension of the system UI.
Keyboard, Animations, and Everyday UX Improvements
WhatsApp is also aligning its in-app experience with the native iOS 26 keyboard style. When you start typing, the keyboard now takes on a translucent, reflective look that adapts to your chat background, reinforcing the Liquid Glass theme. Animations have been refined across the board, with smoother transitions when moving between chats, opening menus, and switching tabs. Buttons react more fluidly to taps, and layered depth effects help separate foreground elements from background content without overwhelming the screen. Not every part of the interface has been updated yet, though: the chat bar still carries traces of the older flat design and has not fully adopted the new visual language. Even so, the combined effect is a more immersive, modern messaging experience that aims to make WhatsApp feel as carefully crafted as Apple’s own apps on iOS 26 devices.
Rollout Status: Who Gets It and How to Enable It
The Liquid Glass redesign is rolling out gradually, so not every iPhone user will see it right away. Technically, support is bundled in WhatsApp for iOS version 25.28.75, available through the App Store, but the new interface is being enabled server-side only for select accounts. That means you can install the latest update and still keep the old design until WhatsApp flips the switch for your profile. On the backend, Meta is using this phased approach to monitor performance, gather user feedback, and refine details before a full public release. Some parts of the experience, such as the chat bar, are still a work in progress. If you want the earliest access, joining the iOS beta channel (where available) improves your chances, but even beta testers may see the Liquid Glass elements appear and evolve over time as testing continues.
Why This Design Matters for WhatsApp and iOS 26
This redesign is more than a cosmetic tweak; it signals how closely WhatsApp intends to track Apple’s evolving design language. By embracing iOS 26’s Liquid Glass principles—transparency, layered depth, and fluid motion—WhatsApp strengthens the sense that it belongs natively on the platform, rather than feeling like a cross-platform transplant. For users, the result is a more cohesive experience as system UI elements, Apple apps, and third-party tools share common visual cues. It also reflects a broader industry trend where messaging apps are becoming more expressive and premium-feeling, not just utilitarian chat utilities. As Apple leans into glass-like effects across iOS 26, WhatsApp’s early adoption positions it as a first mover among major social apps, and suggests that future updates may further refine this aesthetic with additional Liquid Glass touches in places like the chat bar and media views.