WhatsApp adds permanent message pins and history sharing to group chats

WhatsApp has added four new features to group chats. The changes let users pin important messages so they stay in the chat indefinitely. The company also announced a way to share earlier messages with new members.

Under the new update, users can leave messages pinned in a group chat "forever", according to the company's announcement. Group admins and managers can share recent messages with a member who has just joined. They do this by tapping the new member's name. The company said these shared messages will be end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the people in the chat can read them.

The update also covers group status updates and filters that help users find unread chats. The filters are meant to show which conversations still need attention. The details come mainly from WhatsApp's own announcement, and the company has not said when the features will reach every user.

How the features work

Pinned messages were already possible in WhatsApp, but they could only stay up for a limited time. The new option removes that time limit for group chats. History sharing lets newcomers catch up on a conversation without asking members to repeat themselves.

The company has not said how many messages an admin can share with a new member. It has also not said whether the feature will work in older group chats or only in new ones.

What happens next depends on the rollout. Users should check their app for the features once the update reaches their phone.