Skip to main content TechRadar the technology experts Search TechRadar View Profile België (Nederlands) Deutschland North America US (English) Australasia New Zealand Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming MacBook Air M4 Nintendo Switch 2 NYT Wordle today Best laptop Websites & Apps Forget AI – WhatsApp is planning a simple messages feature that could be its most useful upgrade in years Roland Moore-Colyer 13 March 2025 An upgrade that'll make my life easier When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock / AdemAY) The beta version 2.25.7.7 of WhatsApp for Android includes a feature that groups related messages into a thread. This could make parsing sprawling chats far easier. I'm glad that it looks like a practical feature rather than an AI tool. While companies are falling over themselves to add AI tools to all manner of products and services, WhatsApp seems to be treading a different path, with the messaging service looking to add a feature that groups specific replies to messages into a thread rather than showing them as disparate responses. This news comes courtesy of WABetaInfo, which spotted the feature in the beta version 2.25.7.7 of WhatsApp for Android. Such betas usually offer a strong indication of what features users can expect to see rolled out in future WhatsApp updates. In effect, this new feature looks set to be an easy way to track messages that relate back to each other. You may like WhatsApp looks set to get an AI makeover soon – here's what could be coming WhatsApp just made its AI impossible to avoid – but at least you can turn it off Currently, WhatsApp only lets users reply to a single message in isolation. If, like me, you have friends who seem to discuss multiple topics at once, and you’re like me and ask a lot of questions or have thoughts about those different topics, then keeping track of particular elements of a convoluted WhatsApp chat can be a nightmare. So what might seem like a small upgrade to WhatsApp could be a godsend for folks like me. It’s also gratifying that WhatsApp is looking at a feature that has a tangible real-world use, rather than adding generative AI elements to smoosh emojis together or change the tone of a message – tone never communicates well in text anyway. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, as iPhone users will be familiar with message threads in the default Messages app in iOS. But Apple's implementation isn’t perfect, so if WhatsApp can create a more elegant take, then I’m all for it. Exactly when this threads feature will actually roll out to WhatsApp users isn’t clear. It might appear soon, or it could take a few more updates for WhatsApp to get it right, and working smoothly across Android and iOS. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. For now it’s a case of watch this space, but I’m crossing my fingers that the update will come sooner rather than later, before certain friends drive me mad with too many points and subjects crammed into a blast of messages. You might also like The latest iPhone 17 Pro Max leak may have given us another look at its upcoming redesign This Redditor installed a game engine on their smartwatch, and now it runs Doom, Quake, and Half-Life I made an AI version of Bilbo Baggins using Goggle Gemini for free, and shared a pipe with him outside Bag End – here’s what you can now do with Gems See more Computing News Roland Moore-Colyer Social Links Navigation Managing Editor, Mobile Computing Roland Moore-Colyer is Managing Editor at TechRadar with a focus on phones and tablets, but a general interest in all things tech, especially those with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers, and cars when the occasion arrives, and supports with the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face and a nose for food markets. 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