WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.36.11: WhatsApp is quietly working on a major upgrade that will completely change how new members experience group chats. The feature, called Recent History Sharing, is designed to help newcomers catch up instantly by letting them view messages shared shortly before they joined. While this idea first surfaced in the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.18.17 update, the latest developments suggest it’s now much closer to an official rollout.
According to details spotted in the newest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.36.11, available on the Google Play Store, WhatsApp is actively building and refining this feature to ensure a smooth launch soon. The goal is simple: whenever someone joins a group—whether through an invite link or by being added by an admin—they will automatically receive a short window of recent chat history for context.
What the New Feature Does
At its core, Recent History Sharing allows admins to enable an option that lets existing group members share the last batch of messages with anyone new who joins. This gives newcomers immediate context so they don’t feel lost in the middle of a fast-moving conversation.
A screenshot from the development build shows WhatsApp integrating this as a permission within group settings. Once turned on, the app will automatically share a limited set of recent messages—no extra steps needed from the admin or the new participant.
Whether someone joins through a manual add or an invitation link, they’ll be able to see the selected recent messages instantly. WhatsApp currently plans to share messages from the past 24 hours, though this time window might change before the final release.
End-to-End Encryption Stays Intact
WhatsApp isn’t compromising on privacy to bring this feature to life. Since all messages inside group chats are protected by end-to-end encryption, the app must securely reprocess the message history for new members.
Here’s how it will work:
- When a new participant joins, WhatsApp automatically selects one existing group member.
- That member’s device re-encrypts the recent messages specifically for the newcomer.
- The app also generates a new encryption key for the group chat every time someone joins, ensuring all communication stays protected.
This keeps WhatsApp’s strong privacy promise intact—even while expanding access to recent messages.
Limits to Keep Data Usage in Check
Group chats can get extremely active, especially in large communities or event-planning groups where hundreds of messages are exchanged daily. Sharing all messages from the last 24 hours in such cases could consume a lot of data, especially for users on limited mobile plans.
To avoid this issue, WhatsApp is testing a smart limit:
- Maximum of 1,000 messages can be shared from the last 24 hours.
This ensures newcomers get the important context without overloading their phone or wasting unnecessary data. WhatsApp may adjust this cap later, depending on how the feature performs during beta testing.
Why This Feature Matters
Group conversations often move quickly, and new members can feel confused or left out when they join mid-discussion. Important announcements or discussions may have already happened before they arrived.
Recent History Sharing solves this problem instantly.
Imagine these scenarios:
- A college group plans an event through the day, and someone joins in the afternoon—they’ll immediately see what was already discussed.
- A work team adds a new member to a project group—they can catch up without asking for forwards or screenshots.
- A family group prepares a trip itinerary, and a cousin joins later—they won’t miss any important updates.
This makes WhatsApp groups more inclusive, organised, and easier to participate in.
Smooth Experience for Both Admins and Members
Admins will find the option inside the group permissions panel, where they can toggle the feature on or off. Everything else happens automatically in the background. Existing members won’t notice any delays, and new members won’t need to request anything manually.
WhatsApp is also ensuring that sharing recent history doesn’t affect message delivery or disrupt ongoing chats.
Still Under Development – Not Available Yet
Although the feature appears functional in internal builds, it is still under development and is not available even to beta testers at the moment. WhatsApp is polishing the experience, fixing potential issues, and preparing it for a wider rollout.
Once testing is complete, the recent history option will be released in a future update. Users are advised to keep their WhatsApp app updated so they can try the feature as soon as it goes live.
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