Have you ever tried to find a message from months or even years ago on WhatsApp, only to spend a long time scrolling through the chat and still fail to locate it?
If so, WhatsApp appears to have decided to address this common frustration. Users will soon be able to search for a required message with just one click. According to a report, WhatsApp is working on a new search shortcut feature within chats.
The feature has reportedly been spotted in a new beta version of WhatsApp for iOS devices.
Currently, users who want to search within a chat have to leave the conversation and open the chat info screen. They then need to select the search option to find a particular message. While the existing feature works, the process may not be convenient for everyone.
To make the process easier, WhatsApp is reportedly introducing a new feature that will add a search button directly to the chat screen.
However, the search button will not remain permanently visible on the screen. Instead, it will appear when users scroll upwards through older messages in a conversation.
Although the change may appear minor, it could save users considerable time when looking for older messages in lengthy chats.
The feature is currently available in a beta version, so it is not yet clear when WhatsApp will roll it out to all users. The company may also make further changes before the feature is released publicly.
In addition to individual chats, the search shortcut is reportedly being developed for WhatsApp Channels as well. This will allow users to search for older updates and posts published within a channel more conveniently.
The new feature is expected to make searching through lengthy conversations and channel updates faster and more straightforward.