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WhatsApp Beta Adds Chat History Sharing for New Members

9to5Mac •
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WhatsApp is testing a feature that lets existing group members share recent chat history with new joiners. Beta testers via TestFlight can now choose to share up to 100 messages from the last 14 days. This addresses a long-standing user request to help newcomers catch up on conversations quickly.

When adding a new member, the sharing option appears in the group info screen. Users can select how many messages to send, and WhatsApp adds a notification to the group confirming the action. All shared messages maintain end-to-end encryption, ensuring security is preserved during the transfer.

This move aligns WhatsApp with competitors like Telegram and Signal, which already offer similar history-sharing capabilities. The feature is also in testing on Android, suggesting a broader rollout is imminent. For users, it simplifies onboarding into busy group chats without manual context recaps.

Expect an official release in the coming months if beta feedback is positive. The transparency message and user-controlled sharing limits aim to prevent misuse. This update reinforces Meta's focus on practical, privacy-conscious features for its massive global user base.