WhatsApp updates iOS attachment sheet

WhatsApp has started rolling out a redesigned attachment sheet for iPhone users that surfaces recent photos and videos directly inside the chat picker, according to feature-tracker WABetaInfo. The change is tied to WhatsApp for iOS version 26.19.75 and is being distributed through both the App Store and Apple’s TestFlight beta program, WABetaInfo said. The new sheet lets users browse recent media without first opening the full photo library, a change that shortens the path from chat to send. WABetaInfo said the interface also adopts Apple’s Liquid Glass visual style, extending a broader redesign WhatsApp has been testing across its iOS app. ### What exactly changed when you tap the plus button? WABetaInfo reported on April 1 that WhatsApp was developing a redesigned chat attachment sheet that would bring the newer gallery interface into the menu opened from the “+” button. In that preview, the tracker said the redesign would combine recent media with other sharing options such as documents, location and contacts, while also keeping a direct camera shortcut in the same interface. (wabetainfo.com) The May 19 rollout appears to move that work from development into release. WABetaInfo’s earlier reporting said the attachment redesign builds on WhatsApp’s gallery changes from late 2024, when the company began replacing a full-screen attachment menu on iOS with an expandable tray for media and other file types. ### Why is recent media now visible without opening the full gallery? (wabetainfo.com) The iPhone change centers on speed. WABetaInfo said the redesigned sheet shows recent photos and videos immediately, which removes an extra step for users who usually send the latest image or clip from a conversation. The same April preview also described a date indicator for month and year while browsing media, aimed at helping users move through older items more quickly. (wabetainfo.com) WhatsApp has been adjusting this part of the app for more than a year. In May 2024, the company announced a refreshed iOS attachment layout that replaced the older full-screen menu with an expandable tray for media, polls, documents and other options. ### Where does Apple’s Liquid Glass design show up here? WABetaInfo has separately reported that WhatsApp has been testing Apple’s Liquid Glass styling across several iOS surfaces, including the chat interface, reaction tray, message context menus and app icon. (wabetainfo.com) A May 15 WABetaInfo post said even the WhatsApp Business icon on iOS was being adjusted to align with the newer Liquid Glass-inspired look. (wabetainfo.com) The attachment-sheet update is part of that same visual shift, based on WABetaInfo’s description. The tracker said WhatsApp has been rolling out Liquid Glass-inspired changes gradually rather than switching the whole interface at once. ### Why are App Store and TestFlight both part of the rollout? Apple’s App Store listing confirms WhatsApp Messenger is distributed on iPhone by WhatsApp Inc., while TestFlight remains Apple’s standard channel for pre-release iOS builds. (wabetainfo.com) WABetaInfo said version 26.19.75 is being deployed through both channels, which indicates WhatsApp is seeding the interface to a mix of stable users and beta testers rather than making it available to all iPhone users at once. WABetaInfo said the release is gradual. The tracker’s iOS coverage regularly notes that compatible versions may not show a feature immediately because WhatsApp enables some changes over time, and the site said the attachment-sheet update is expected to reach more users over the coming weeks. ### What should iPhone users watch for next? Version 26.19.75 is the build to check first, according to WABetaInfo. (apps.apple.com) Users who do not see the new attachment sheet immediately may need to wait for WhatsApp to expand the staged rollout through later App Store and TestFlight releases, WABetaInfo said. (wabetainfo.com)