WhatsApp Beta rolls out threaded message replies: Here’s how it works

WhatsApp is testing out a new feature that will help in making group chats easier to manage. The messaging app is trying threaded message responses on its Android beta that let users see all the replies to a message in one spot. Members will be able to view replies by simply clicking an icon when they want to scroll through lengthy conversations, and the replies are organised in a separate window with an icon called 'Replies'.

It is available only to a limited group of beta testers using the Android version 2.25.25.7 of WhatsApp. It may become available to additional testers in the next few weeks, according to feature tracker WABetaInfo. As of now, the feature only shows up upon a message reply being received more than once, which guarantees the feature is activated only on the ones that are worth a larger discussion.

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A group message will display an icon labelled 'X replies', which is clickable and represents the number of people who have replied to that message when there are at least two replies to the message. On clicking on this icon, a new screen appears showing the replies in chronological order. Such a system resembles the functionality of Reddit or X (previously Twitter) comment threads, except that, unlike on these sites, nested chains within comment threads are not allowed in WhatsApp.

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The reply written within a thread is labelled as the follow-up reply and is also displayed as the main chat so that users cannot miss any important message. But threads will only be supported by new messages; older chats will not be restructured. Interestingly enough, threaded replies can also be seen by even recipients that are not yet using the feature, provided the sender includes it.

Through this feature, WhatsApp will minimise the amount of clutter in crowded group chats, and users will enjoy following side conversations without necessarily losing track of the main conversation.