WhatsApp is getting ready to bring Apple’s new Liquid Glass design to iPhone users. This fresh design is part of iOS 26, which Apple will release with the upcoming iPhone 17 series.
The Liquid Glass style makes apps look softer and more fluid, with a translucent effect that reacts to light, movement, and user interaction. It gives the impression of depth, almost like looking through real glass, while keeping the interface modern and clear.
The new look was spotted in WhatsApp Beta for iOS version 25.24.10.70. According to details shared by feature tracker WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has started using the iOS 26 software development kit. With this, the app can now take advantage of tools like SwiftUI and UIKit updates, which Apple has improved to help developers add the Liquid Glass effect across different parts of their apps.
WhatsApp is not rolling out the design all at once. Instead, the company is applying it in stages. The first step will update the bottom navigation bar with the new style. After that, buttons, menus, and other controls will get the translucent layers.
Finally, WhatsApp will make sure that text and icons are easy to read against the new transparent backgrounds before releasing it more widely. This is important because the new glass-like look should not reduce clarity for people using the app.
For now, the new design is still in development. Even those testing WhatsApp through Apple’s TestFlight programme cannot use Liquid Glass yet. The feature is expected to become available around the same time as iOS 26’s public release, which will likely happen alongside the launch of the iPhone 17 Series later this year.
Apple introduced Liquid Glass as part of its plan to refresh the look and feel of iOS. By including translucent materials and depth effects, Apple wants apps to appear more responsive and visually rich.
Since WhatsApp is one of the most widely used apps on iPhone, its early testing of Liquid Glass shows how major developers are already preparing their apps for Apple’s new design standards. This way, when iOS 26 goes live, users will see their favorite apps feel more in line with the new system look.