WhatsApp has released a new update for its macOS app that brings a useful feature to make chats easier to manage. The update, which comes as version 25.22.79, adds chat filters to the desktop app. This makes it simple for users to quickly find different types of conversations instead of scrolling through the entire chat list.
The new update is small in size at around 21.7MB and is rolling out on the App Store. For now, the feature is only available to some users, but more people are expected to get it over the next few weeks.
The new chat filters are shown at the top of the chat list. They are designed to make it easier to switch between different views of your conversations. Four options are available. The “Unread” filter shows only the chats with unopened messages, so users can focus on replies they haven’t sent yet.
The “Favourites” filter allows people to mark specific contacts as important, so those conversations can be opened instantly without searching. The “Groups” filter brings all your group chats together in one spot. Finally, there is the “All” filter, which is the default option showing every chat as usual.
Until now, macOS users had to rely on a separate button or scroll through chats to find unread messages, which took more time. Filters were already available on WhatsApp’s iOS and Android apps, so this update makes the macOS version more consistent with the mobile versions.
According to WABetaInfo, a platform that tracks WhatsApp updates, this new feature is rolling out slowly and should reach more people soon. The change reduces the number of steps needed to find specific conversations and makes navigation much smoother, especially for people who manage several chats daily.
At the same time, WhatsApp is testing more features for Android and iOS. A new feature in development will let users send a voice message if their call isn’t answered. Another feature called Writing Help is being developed to suggest better ways to write messages. WhatsApp is also testing support for Motion Photos, a feature that makes still pictures look like short moving clips, similar to Apple’s Live Photos.
The timing of this macOS feature also matches with other big changes happening in the technology world. For example, Google’s new Pixel 10 series phones have added support for WhatsApp calling through satellite networks, giving users a way to stay connected even without traditional mobile signals. At the same time, rival messaging apps are also improving their platforms to attract more users.