Liquid Glass: WhatsApp’s Next Big Interface Update on iOS
WhatsApp is introducing a major visual refresh on iPhone with a new Liquid Glass interface inspired by Apple’s iOS 26 design language. Currently appearing in WhatsApp beta for iOS version 25.28.75, the update leans into transparency, layered depth, and smoother motion effects throughout the app. Instead of the familiar flat look, users will see glass-like overlays and semi-transparent components that create a more refined, immersive experience while preserving WhatsApp’s core layout and navigation. This WhatsApp interface update is being enabled gradually, even for users who install the latest build, as Meta tests stability and gathers feedback. The result is a messaging app that looks more native to the latest iOS aesthetic, aligning with Apple’s broader push toward translucent UI design and more expressive visual interactions across the system.
Translucent Tabs, Glassy Buttons, and Smoother Animations
The most noticeable change in the WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign is the bottom tab bar. It now appears as a semi-transparent “glass” strip that subtly blurs content behind it, creating a floating, layered effect. Icons animate more fluidly when tapped, and the active tab indicator dynamically adjusts to match the selected icon, giving the interface a more responsive feel. This translucent UI design applies in both light and dark modes, with transparency and background effects tuned to each theme. Beyond the tab bar, buttons across the app adopt semi-translucent surfaces and smoother tap animations, reinforcing the new visual language. Together, these tweaks move WhatsApp away from a flat, utilitarian look toward a more polished, premium presence that better matches iOS 26’s system-wide Liquid Glass aesthetic.
Menus, Keyboard, and Depth Effects Aligned With iOS 26
Beyond navigation and buttons, WhatsApp’s iOS 26 redesign extends to menus and the typing experience. Context menus now follow the Liquid Glass approach with glass-like layers, adaptive transparency, and a more modern, floating appearance. WhatsApp is also adopting the native iOS 26 keyboard style, giving the typing area a translucent, reflective finish that subtly responds to the chosen chat background. Depth and layering are emphasized throughout, with glassy surfaces and softer depth cues replacing flatter, opaque panels. These changes are designed to make WhatsApp feel more closely integrated with Apple’s latest visual direction, reducing the jarring transition between system UI and app UI. While the chat bar still retains elements of the older flat design, the overall interface is shifting toward a cohesive, transparency-driven experience.
A Gradual Rollout to Select Users, With More Refinements to Come
For now, the Liquid Glass redesign remains in testing and is only reaching select iOS accounts. Even with version 25.28.75 installed, not all users will immediately see the new WhatsApp interface update, as Meta is enabling the visual refresh server-side to monitor performance, gather feedback, and refine details. Some elements, such as the chat bar, still rely on older UI components and may evolve as the Liquid Glass look is finalized. This cautious rollout mirrors a broader trend in app design, where messaging tools are becoming more visually expressive rather than purely functional. As Apple continues to push transparency, depth, and fluid motion with iOS 26, WhatsApp’s early adoption suggests a clear intent: to feel fully native on modern iPhones and deliver a cleaner, more immersive messaging experience without disrupting existing user habits.
