WhatsApp’s Liquid Glass Redesign Rolling Out to More iOS Users

WhatsApp’s Liquid Glass redesign is rolling out to more iOS users, bringing a frosted, translucent interface, floating navigation bars, and blurred overlays across the app; here’s what’s changing, who can see it now, and how it fits Apple’s iOS 26 design language. (Focus Keyword: WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign)

WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign is rolling out to more iOS users, and the change is a lot more thoughtful than a simple “make it look Apple‑y.” The app is adopting Apple’s iOS 26‑era Liquid Glass visual language step‑by‑step across the iPhone interface, with frosted translucent panels, blur‑heavy overlays, and a floating bottom navigation bar replacing the older flat designs. Early adopters and beta testers are already seeing this new look in the main WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business apps, with gradual expansion expected over the coming weeks.

What “Liquid Glass” actually looks like in WhatsApp

If you’ve seen Apple’s Music or some system apps on iOS 26, Liquid Glass will feel familiar: soft blur, semi‑transparent backgrounds, and subtle depth. In WhatsApp, that translates to:

Frosted, translucent menus: Context‑action panels and bottom‑sheet‑style dialogs now use a blur‑heavy frosted‑glass backdrop instead of solid‑color backgrounds, blending with your chat wallpaper.
Floating bottom navigation bar: The tab bar at the bottom no longer sits flat; it floats above the interface with a semi‑transparent, glass‑like surface that reflects the content behind it.
Soft blur overlays in chats and settings: Panels for contact info, group details, and some settings screens gain a blurred, layered look that visually separates them from the chat without feeling like a hard‑cut modal.
Layered floating sheets: Action sheets and modals now use a “layered” look, with subtle depth cues and softer edges instead of stark white cards.

Taken together, these tweaks make WhatsApp feel less like a standalone chat app and more like a native part of iOS 26’s visual ecosystem. The overall effect is a bit more premium, a bit more cohesive, and a lot less “flat‑panel heavy.”

Where the redesign is already rolling out

WhatsApp first started experimenting with Liquid Glass back in 2025, rolling it out to the tab bar and parts of the Chats screen for select users. In early 2026, testers began seeing the new look in the WhatsApp Business app for iOS 26, with the 26.5.77 update introducing translucent elements and layered effects that match Apple’s design guidelines.

Now, the rollout is broadening:

More WhatsApp Messenger users on iOS 26 are getting the Liquid Glass treatment across settings, context menus, and some dialog flows.
The redesign is also appearing in the WhatsApp Business app for iOS, with identical frosted‑glass styles and floating UI elements.
Recent beta builds (such as iOS 26.18.10.70) show that Meta is still testing the Liquid Glass language, meaning features and micro‑tweaks can still change before the full public release.

New changes in the reaction tray and context menus

One of the freshest tweaks is how WhatsApp is bringing Liquid Glass into the most‑used parts of the app: the message reaction tray and in‑chat context menus. According to beta findings and early reports, the updates include:

Translucent reaction tray: The smiley‑key‑style emoji picker that slides up when you long‑press a message is getting a more translucent, glass‑like background that blends with the chat background instead of sitting like a flat white bar.
Soft‑blur context menu: The small pop‑up that appears when you press and hold a message for reply, forward, copy, or delete now uses layered transparency and a lighter, blurrier appearance rather than a solid‑color panel.
Visual consistency: WhatsApp is trying to unify the look so that the reaction tray, context menu, and other in‑chat overlays all share the same frosted‑glass aesthetic, reducing visual whiplash as you move between them.

These changes are still rolling out slowly, so some users see the old flat look, while others already have the softer Liquid Glass design even in the same version of the app.

Extending Liquid Glass into the chat interface

Beyond menus, WhatsApp is working on expanding Liquid Glass into the actual chat screen — the part of the app where you spend most of your time. Planned changes spotted in test builds include:

Floating chat bar at the bottom: The compose bar is being redesigned to float above the messages with a translucent, frosted background that dynamically reflects the chat behind it, instead of being a flat‑color strip at the screen edge.
Transparent navigation bar at the top: The top bar, which shows the contact name or group title, is moving from a solid look to a semi‑transparent, softly blurred state that lets your wallpaper and messages peek through.
Jump‑to‑latest button with depth: The small “down‑arrow” button that takes you to the latest unread messages is also getting a Liquid Glass makeover, with a more subtle, glass‑like appearance.

These updates are still in code or limited‑beta stages, so not all TestFlight users see them yet. Meta is reportedly holding back a wider rollout until the entire app feels visually consistent, which explains why some parts look newer while others lag behind.

How this ties into iOS 26’s design language

WhatsApp isn’t just picking a trendy look; it’s aligning with Apple’s iOS 26 Liquid Glass visual language, which emphasizes:

Dynamic transparency and depth effects.
Soft blur instead of solid backgrounds.
Floating UI elements that feel like they “live” in the same layer‑stack as other apps.

By using the iOS 26 SDK, WhatsApp can tap into system‑level transparency and blur APIs, which means:

Better performance for frosted‑glass effects than if the app had to simulate them itself.
Smoother animations and transitions that feel like they’re part of the OS, not an add‑on.
Stronger visual continuity with other apps that also adopt the Liquid Glass style (such as Apple’s own apps and some third‑party titles).

For users, the result is an app that feels more “Apple‑native” without sacrificing WhatsApp’s core layout.

Who can see the Liquid Glass redesign now

At the moment, the WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign is:

Available to some users on the latest iOS 26 WhatsApp builds (both public and beta).
Gradually rolling out via App Store and TestFlight channels.
Also present in the WhatsApp for iOS 26.5.77 update for the Business app.

If you’re on an older iOS version or an older app release, you’ll likely still see the classic flat design. There’s no official release‑date schedule yet, so the rollout could vary by region, account, and device.

How to tell if you’ve got Liquid Glass

If you’re on iOS 26 and the latest WhatsApp, you can quickly spot the Liquid Glass vibe by checking:

The bottom tab bar: it should look like a semi‑transparent, frosted‑glass strip that floats above the chats.
Context menus and action sheets: when you open contact info, group settings, or long‑press a message, the panels should feel blur‑heavy and layered, not flat.
Reaction tray and “more emojis” area: the emoji picker should have a translucent effect, and the “More” section that lets you scroll through all emojis should also feel glassier.

If it all still looks white and flat, you’re either on an older app version or simply not in the current rollout bucket yet.

Why this redesign matters beyond aesthetics

On the surface, Liquid Glass is a visual refresh, but it reflects a few strategic choices:

Design consistency with iOS 26: It makes WhatsApp feel less like a “web app in a wrapper” and more like a proper iOS citizen, especially as competition tightens among messaging apps.
Better use of space and focus: The frosted‑glass overlays and floating bars can subtly direct attention without using harsh color blocks, which can improve readability in complex chats.
Branding alignment: For WhatsApp Business customers, the more polished UI reinforces the sense of a professional, enterprise‑ready app instead of a simple consumer tool.

For average users, the change is subtle but meaningful: the app just feels a bit more modern, a bit more “at home” on iOS, and a bit less like a separate app slapped onto Apple’s OS.