WhatsApp is testing support for four pinned messages in individual and group chats, giving Android beta users an additional slot for important content.
WhatsApp is testing an expansion to its pinned messages feature that will allow users to keep up to four messages pinned in individual and group chats.
The change, reported by WhatsApp-focused website WABetaInfo, is currently rolling out to some Android beta testers through WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.26.35.8. The rollout is gradual, so the feature may not immediately appear for everyone using the compatible beta version.
Previously, WhatsApp allowed users to pin a maximum of three messages at the top of a conversation. The additional slot could make it easier to keep important information accessible, particularly in active group chats where messages can quickly get buried.
Users do not need to follow a new process to pin the fourth message. They can press and hold a message, select the pin option and choose how long they want it to remain pinned. Once added, the message joins the other pinned messages at the top of the conversation.
Users with multiple pinned messages can tap the pinned message bar to move between them. The feature is available for both individual and group conversations.
The extra slot could be particularly useful for groups that need to keep several pieces of information readily available. An event group, for example, could pin an announcement, instructions, a location and a schedule without having to remove one of the existing messages.
WhatsApp has also been making other changes to its pinned message system. The platform recently introduced notifications that inform users when someone pins a message in an individual or group chat. These notifications follow the same settings as regular message notifications and do not appear when a conversation is muted.
The company is also testing additional ways to make pinned content more useful, including pinned updates for channels.
For now, the four-message limit remains limited to some Android beta testers. WhatsApp has not confirmed when the feature will become available on the stable Android release or other platforms.
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