Here is what is coming in the next WhatsApp update for Windows Phone

The popular messaging app WhatsApp has been quiet lately for updates on Windows Phone. In fact, it has not been updated since the end of June, which is a very long time in technology. The good news is the private beta was receiving updates at a steady clip, including one yesterday.

The latest version of WhatsApp beta is 2.11.574.0 and with it are a few new features that have been added over the last few months. Here is your first look.

1. Archive

In place of email conversation history, you can now archive messages for safekeeping. Holding down on the user name reveals a pop-up menu with 'archive' as an option. To view archived messages, on the main menu with ellipsis, you can select 'archived chats'. You can also un-archive them. Emailing chat history can now be found under the person's contact info.

2. Send custom location

Sending your location to another user has been present in WhatsApp for some time but with the forthcoming update, you can move your position around on the map and send that instead. This option is good if you plan to move to another spot to meet with someone. It is also useful to deceive your spouse about where you are, but I digress. You can also still select Nearby Place for quick reference of popular locations.

3. Add captions to images, crop, and rotate

A more robust photo editor is featured, letting you crop, rotate, and add captions to photos before sending.

4. Smaller fonts for higher resolution screens

The fonts get tighter and smaller in WhatsApp, letting you see more on the display and making Lumia 1520 owners happier.

5. Backgrounds for individual users

Currently, you can add a background to all of your chats under the Chat Settings option. With the beta, you can add wallpaper to individual contacts, giving each chat a unique look and personality.

Finally, there are the usual unreported fixes, optimizations, and performance improvements to the app.

6. Windows Phone 8.1 only and release?

Unfortunately, there is no ETA for when this update for WhatsApp will go public. Some rumors, particularly one on Reddit claims it is "soon" but it is not clear how they would know this, as they are unverified source. It is clear though Windows Phone users are long overdue for a WhatsApp update, so hopefully it happens sooner than later.

Interestingly, the latest version of WhatsApp is Windows Phone 8.1 only, marking a significant departure for the messaging app.

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.

371 Comments

Kik needs to be updated bad. Posted via Windows Phone Central App
Kik abandoned support for Windows Phone like 18 months ago. Time to move on ;)
Why is there a mention on deceiving your spouse in the article. That's kind of tacky and lowbrow for wpc standards.
+920 Micah
68% of women would cheat on their partner of they knew they wouldn't get caught... It's the way of the world and no matter how ignorant you drive to be, it is an everyday occurrence :(
98% of stats are pulled out of our asses lol. That's not how the world works. That's how SOME people work in the world. There's a difference lmao.
Aah Micah...do you believe you are somehow different from every other higher functioning mammal? Bonobo's, Lion's, Chimp's, Dolphins, Killer Whales...every one of those reinforce social bonds through sex.
It's only a modern social constraint that conditions us humans to be monogamous.
Good on you for committing your conkers to one person....but don't be naive ;). Women cheat....men cheat.
Welcome to the world.
+cheating ex's :|
:P
What about gibbons Captain Herpes?
I don't think Micah is against cheating. I think he is pointing out that statistics can indicate whatever you want them to indicate. I earned a PhD and I can say he is correct, for the most part.
It would be funny if you actually believed that only women would cheat :/
Hey anyone using all these alternative apps for communication are hiding something.....
I'm not hiding anything. In fact I can tell you this secret that just yesterday I...uhm, sorry, I have to go. Bye.
@Superboy Micah It was a joke. If you don't get it, don't like it, don't find it funny, that's on you. Your constant complaints around here are wearing thin.
I've made 2 complaints....The first one, perhaps wasn't valid even though it still had nothing to do with the 830. It's not a hit against you or WPC, but considerng you guys are the De Facto blog for wp and you guys have excellent quality, it should be a compliment that I(And others) expect quality since you guys usually showcase that. I get that it was a joke...I'm not stupid. But it was a tacky one. I apologize if all 2 of my "Cosntant complaints" are wearing thin but it's just because i expect more from the site as well as my preferred writer(You). No big deal.
Fair enough.
Totally..we must think about the new update while we're busy discussing whether we can cheat on someone...
If you love your spouse...simply be true (and don't update ;P)
-for those who are against what wpc mentioned.
Amen :P
I agree superboy, very tacky
I'm thinking about doing this more often...I like when you folks find stuff unprofessional/tacky :)
Way to impress your readers, Daniel :)
I like talking to the WPCentral team. Its pretty cool, I know you guys dont always reply because you have lives and are busy, but I see you guys as celebrities, your pretty awesome! This community gathers together ones who share common interests and talk amongst each other.
Sometimes... However, I like to go our in public and straight up ask a random stranger "Hey, what's your opinion on Windows Phone?" And I like to see what people outside think about stuff too, some stuff might surprise. But yeh... Live the WPCentral team, is there anyway I can donate to you guys or something?
Hah, thanks for the kind words. Regarding donations, no, not yet at least. We have some plans for something similar though, but with perks.
Anytime Daniel, hope to meet you one day, maybe at a Microsoft event! Alright cool, like a rewards program? Well, if there's no donations, I guess could always start buying my devices/accessories from you guys.
I like it..
I would find a headline article featuring nude photographs in weird positions to be highly tacky and unprofessional. DO IT
Hey daniel, y there is no mp3 attachment from storage in whatsapp?? Posted via the Windows Phone Central App for Android
who said anything about decieving your spouse means cheating on them. you coul be saying you're working late when in reality you are shopping for a surprise gift for them, or you could visiting a friend to watch them game at their place when in fact you're in the pub with them.
Lighten up. this made me chuckle because its true XD.. But in all honesty, it sounds like a very usefull feature :P
How is your phone charging Daniel over your surface pro 3??
Because humor, some vital part of one's personality which you obviously keep discreet or lack at all.
And you still remember this info. :P
What about that Buzzzzz Noise from speakers when we use WhatsApp ,, Any idea :) ?
What phone do you have?
I know and it sucks. Everybody I know uses Kik. Hopefully they'll come back with all the OEMS coming on board. Posted via Windows Phone Central App
You wouldn't be saying that if no one you know uses WhatsApp or BBM or whatever else. KIK is literally what everybody in my STATE uses for communication and most my friends don't even use Facebook. We need support for KIK users and Microsoft should really use Webkit and maybe internet explorer wouldn't be a piece of SHIZNIK. :-)
How is your phone charging Daniel over your surface pro 3???
Sadly they dropped support because they suck. So..... I actually think whatsapp is one of the best but since they CHARGE YOU MONEY they should update faster and more frequently.
79 pence! That's less than a loaf of bread....for 12 months of unlimited messaging.
Not a bad price IMO!
So what, it's not a much used apps. No stickers, very difficult no find any sites, ect. Facebook does it better, but since they own this, who knows?
Not at all, I never said it was expensive. It's an EXCELLENT price indeed. But it's a price afterall over a "free" app so... they should put more dedication to it.
Exactly! That is a nominal price for something which everyone in Asia uses!
0,99 €! It's less than a chocolate bar. For something that you say is one of the best and that you probably use everyday during the year...
Entering 5th year now and haven't been charged a penny
On the store it looks like it's been abandoned for over 2 years now.
Kik was abandoned the way it is because WP doesn't have webkit support (I thought WP 8.1 brought it but I can't confirm it). And you can't use the unstable test html5 they use in the app on IOS and android. I wish too that they would update it already, like seriously. I don't want to use WhatsApp because of that yearly fee.
What yearly fee? Anyone actually paying that? It's like..winrar u know >_
Nope. Viber needs to be UPDATED.
Not bad :P
Not bad??? All useless stuff. Still missing the most important part, video compression and music share and further things...
I dunno, I find the stuff you mentioned useless. Point is, what one values in an update is relative. Calling out people on their opinions is kind of weak. It's a decent update, but no one is claiming it is the end all, be all for the app.
Still no option to add mp3 files directly from "files" ??
Basically because it's illegal.
Yeah, I mean, I could see many companies having a problem just freely letting you send MP3s to others, especially now that they are owned by Facebook.
+1
I really dont understand the logic here... whatsapp on Android allows you to send or share mp3 files... Even symbian version of Whatsapp does... So only WP version is going to be held out for copyright concerns?? Thats ridiculous in my opinion...
iOS too, do your homework and work for free.
Nokia S40 allows it too
Well. I don't think any other app on WP is able to send .mp3 files so I think it is more of an OS limitation than WhatsApp's fault..
Dan, the issue is we have to compete with Android in every aspect. 1. Not letting Sharing Mp3 or Saving received mp3. 2. Some games in Wp for paid are free in Android. I don't know why this double standards?
Some android price difference See Modern Combat 5 is ₹360 on WP on android it's ₹390 It depends on where its put
True
Music sharing is really important. A lot of my friends on Android make fun of me when they hear that such basic features are not available on whatsapp for Windows Phone.
Hehe, change your friends, if you need this so badly, just rename your mp3 to mp4 and move it to WhatsApp folder...
How about the audio files sent to you?
If it's going to be a WinRT phone 8.1 app then even without any additional features that would make it an incredible update!!!
Just because you are not using the features, and that renders as useless? Hmm... Ok
Yes, background and themes are freakin useless if you don't even have basic functions... And it bothers, because I don't give a xxxx about colors, I want to have the same features available of the others os
Same with that weird location sharing, and foto crocop
Still not possible to delete or send multiple msg , that feature is missing since last 2 updates?
But he is right, video compression would certainly be nice, I can't even send 5 sec Videos and that sucks badly!! ;(
Do they group together consecutive messages like the one on Android?
We need the option to select multiple messages!! That's all I want.
I second this!
I second music share... I find it very usefull and hate when my iphoners friend share their music through whatsup and I can't join the party
iOS can't do that I think.
i dnt know wen LINE messaging app can have feature of password security on windows platform then y cant WHATSAPP have it? platform is same fr both, isnt it? or u guys dnt hv the desire to provide windows phone users this or any other features... :(
The cat picture is definitely the best.
:) He is a lazy, fluffy bastard
Omg you sweared. Screenshot->activate
Nah, it's the truth! I have no idea who his father is, he was adopted from a shelter. lol
+image of a Darth Vader cat making a reappearance in your cat's life at some point haha
We need password against girlfriends!!!
Have you tried putting a password to your phone?
Even better, a "fake whatsapp screen" to show when entering the wrong password, with many chats with people like "Chad, John, Joshua, etc."... This will not only fool her, but will also make her feel bad for not trusting you ;)
If her is a he, Chad John and Joshua are gonna look damn suspicious.
Lmfao if you need to password from gfs then the problem is definitely not her lmao
I mean something more subtle...
Lmao comments like these make me sad to be a man sometimes
But then I remember I can pee however I want and it doesn't bother me anymore. :P
That is a plus :P
What we really need is a relationship based on trust. :D
Trust comes when you don't have a male thinking with the wrong head lol
Micah, you are funny. Keep it up..damn it - regarding the thread, no pun intended.
Try hike messenger, hike has chat hiding feature and it already has individual chat background for each contact
But it's soo slow!!! I get notifications 4 days after they've been sent to me...
It's temporary network connection problem, just report hike team and use regularly so it will work fine. Mine is working as charms
I want the fix where you get a message on the whatsapp app as I still don't get any
Maybe you have no friends?
Lmao! ^^^^ :')
Almost all the comments on this article are hilarious!
Yes, they are. Unfortunately, when I make a funny, WPC deletes them :(
Or maybe if u remove suicide from ur name u may :P
I stopped messaging you because you got creepy. All that cheerleader stuff... Just got weird.
Still no mention of improvements of the notification center.
The rest doesn't interest me at all
I second this
Sometimes it works well with notification centre but not all the time.
Yes! I agree.. The live tiles get adjusted but the notifications don't and vice versa..
I agree kik needs an update just as well
Kik is dead.
Kik ed to death....
Still no option to add mp3 files directly from "files" ??
there is a way around to send the mp3. ( and I am not sure if my comment has proper grammer so please just let it be )
We need more support on current windows phone apps, rather then adding new apps. Like Instagram has been in Beta since forever, Twitter...
1520 only, did you forget 1320 ? :)
They don't like that phone I think, still it has my love
+1320
They almost always forget 1320... ):
Doesn't the 1320 have the same screen size? Hypothetically, the app should look identical on both phones....right?
the app consider the resolution, not the screen size. it means 1320 may not change a lot
720p is very good
They always forget it n its still one of the best windows phone out there....+1320
Good update, but what we really need is a support for 8.1