WhatsApp may soon look noticeably different on Android. The messaging platform is testing a redesigned bottom navigation bar that floats above the interface, borrowing some visual ideas from the design already appearing on the iPhone version of the app.
The proposed WhatsApp Android update gives the navigation bar rounded corners and separates it slightly from the bottom edge of the screen. It is a relatively small interface change, but one that could make WhatsApp feel more modern while bringing its Android and iOS apps closer together visually.
The feature has been spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.38.10. It is still under development, which means even beta testers cannot widely use it yet.
What Is Changing in the WhatsApp Navigation Bar?
WhatsApp currently places its main navigation options across the bottom of the Android app in a fairly conventional bar.
The experimental design changes that structure.
Instead of appearing attached to the bottom edge, the new WhatsApp floating navigation bar sits slightly above the surrounding interface. Rounded corners give it a card-like appearance, making it look like a separate element rather than part of the main screen.
The design has reportedly been spotted in both light and dark modes.
Its floating shape is particularly noticeable in the light theme because the separation between the navigation area and the rest of the interface becomes easier to see.
The actual functions are not expected to change significantly. Users should still be able to move between the app’s major sections in much the same way as they do now.
For WhatsApp, this is primarily a visual redesign rather than a fundamental change to how the app works.
WhatsApp Is Borrowing Ideas From Its iPhone App
The redesign comes after WhatsApp introduced wider visual changes on iOS.
Its iPhone interface has increasingly adopted Apple’s Liquid Glass design language, with translucent and floating elements appearing across navigation controls, chat areas and menus.
The WhatsApp Android redesign appears to borrow the idea of a floating navigation element without simply copying Apple’s interface.
That distinction is important.
Android and iOS follow different design conventions, and WhatsApp has historically made small changes between the two versions rather than forcing both applications to look completely identical.
Android users therefore should not expect the same translucent glass effect seen on newer iPhones.
Instead, WhatsApp seems to be adapting the general floating-bar concept to fit more naturally with its Android interface.
The Feature Is Not Available to Beta Testers Yet
Seeing a feature inside a beta build does not necessarily mean people can use it.
The floating navigation bar has been found inside WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.38.10, but it has not yet been activated for testers.
That normally indicates the feature remains in internal development.
WhatsApp often places unfinished interface components or functions inside beta versions before enabling them for a limited number of users. The company can then make further changes before deciding whether the feature is ready for a wider test.
As a result, there is currently no confirmed release date for the new WhatsApp navigation bar.
It could appear for beta users within the coming weeks, take several months to arrive or change significantly before release.
Some experimental WhatsApp features never reach the stable version at all.
WhatsApp Could Still Change the Final Design
The current version should therefore not be treated as the finished interface.
WhatsApp could adjust the dimensions of the bar, its distance from the bottom of the screen, the amount of rounding around its corners or the way it looks across different themes.
The company could also experiment with colour and transparency before releasing it.
Another unanswered question is whether this redesign will remain limited to navigation or become part of a much larger Android interface refresh.
For now, the changes appear focused on the bottom bar itself.
WhatsApp has not officially announced a full Android redesign, so broader changes should not be assumed from the beta build alone.
Android and iOS WhatsApp Are Looking More Consistent
For years, WhatsApp’s Android and iPhone versions had noticeable visual differences.
Over time, the company has gradually reduced some of those differences.
Both apps now use similar navigation structures, calling features and messaging controls even when the exact appearance varies between operating systems.
The latest WhatsApp beta update continues that trend.
Users moving from an iPhone to an Android phone may eventually encounter an interface that feels more familiar than it did previously.
At the same time, WhatsApp appears to be keeping enough Android-specific styling to prevent the app from feeling like a direct iOS port.
This matters for an app used by billions of people because even minor navigation changes can affect a very large audience.
WhatsApp Has Been Refreshing More Than Navigation
The floating bar is arriving during a wider period of interface experimentation at WhatsApp.
The company has been updating chat themes, navigation structures and visual elements across different devices.
On iOS, the Liquid Glass rollout has changed areas including the tab bar, message menus and conversation controls.
WhatsApp has also been adapting its interface for larger devices. Its iPad app, for example, has been moving towards a Mac-style sidebar that makes better use of additional screen space.
Android has received its own theme and wallpaper improvements.
These changes suggest Meta is trying to modernise WhatsApp gradually instead of replacing the entire interface in one major update.
Why a Small Design Change Still Matters
A floating navigation bar will not change how people send messages, make calls or share photos.
But navigation is one of the most frequently used parts of any application.
Users interact with it whenever they move between chats, updates, communities or calls. Small improvements to spacing and visual separation can therefore make the app feel cleaner even when the underlying functions remain unchanged.
There is also a branding reason for WhatsApp to update the interface.
The messaging app competes with increasingly polished communication platforms, while smartphone operating systems themselves continue to adopt more layered and visually distinctive designs.
Keeping the interface relatively fresh helps WhatsApp avoid feeling dated despite the basic messaging experience remaining familiar.
When Will Android Users Get the New Look?
For now, there is no firm answer.
The WhatsApp Android update remains under development and has not reached normal beta testers.
If WhatsApp decides to move forward, the most likely path would involve a limited beta rollout first. Feedback and testing would then determine whether the company expands it to more accounts before eventually including it in the stable Android application.
Until that happens, the existing bottom navigation bar will remain in place for most users.
The important point is that WhatsApp appears interested in giving Android a cleaner, more floating interface similar in spirit to what it has already introduced on iOS.
It may only be a navigation bar, but for an app people open dozens of times each day, that small change could make the next version of WhatsApp feel surprisingly different.
