WhatsApp Tests Green Online Indicator and New Backup Options

WhatsApp is testing a green dot on profile photos to show when a contact is currently online, according to WABetaInfo. The feature was spotted in Android beta version 2.26.24.5 and now appears only on the chat info screen, where it would replace the current “Online” status label. It will be shown only if the contact’s privacy settings allow others to see their online status, and users will still be able to hide availability through privacy controls.

The report says the green indicator is currently available to a limited number of Android beta testers, with WhatsApp rolling it out gradually. WABetaInfo also previously reported that WhatsApp is developing a new contacts area that would show people who are online now or recently active, with sorting by name or connection status and without contacts who hide their status.

Separately, WhatsApp is testing a dedicated Android backup management section inside the app, apart from Google. The new area would let users view existing backups, delete old or duplicate backups, and free up storage. It is also expected to add shortcuts for managing Google Drive storage in a browser and WhatsApp backups from Android device settings.

On Android, WhatsApp currently stores chat history and media in Google Drive, and those backups count toward a user’s Google storage quota. Users can back up manually or set automatic backups daily, weekly, or monthly, and restore them after reinstalling the app with the same phone number and Google account.

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp may offer its own internal backup plan with only 2GB included, but users could buy up to 50GB for $1 per month. Backups on WhatsApp’s servers would be end-to-end encrypted by default, with options to protect them using a passkey, a regular password, or a 64-digit key. The backup management area is still in development and is not yet available in beta.