Can you manually activate Liquid Glass?

There is no manual option to enable or disable Liquid Glass per individual preference. Activation occurs automatically for users who meet the technical requirements and have the latest version installed.

Does Liquid Glass affect performance or battery life?

Blur and transparency effects can be GPU-heavy. Meta has indicated the full Liquid Glass experience is optimised for devices running iOS 26, which means older iPhones may not get all the visual effects, or may get a pared-back version.

Does the new design affect encryption or security?

A redesign of this kind only touches the visual layer. Message delivery, end-to-end encryption, group chats, call quality, status updates, and channels — none of that is affected.

When does Liquid Glass reach Android users?

No confirmed timeline. Meta is building Liquid Glass for iOS first because it relies on iOS 26's native capabilities. Android will get its own version later but it may look visually different given the differences in system-level rendering between the two platforms.

What happens to Android 5 users after September 8, 2026?

Users with a device on Android 5.0 and 5.1 will no longer be able to use WhatsApp once the update takes effect on September 8, 2026. You will need to upgrade to a newer device or update your operating system if that's possible on your hardware.

WhatsApp Liquid Glass Design Preview — Floating Chat Bar, Translucent Navigation and Frosted Glass Menus Coming Soon

WhatsApp Liquid Glass — A Sweeping Visual Overhaul on the Way

A new report from WABetaInfo suggests that WhatsApp is almost ready to release a redesigned in-chat interface. Interestingly, the changes aren't available even to beta users, but WABetaInfo managed to activate the new interface which now includes a floating chat bar and a translucent navigation bar.

What Exactly Is Liquid Glass?

Liquid Glass brings a cleaner and more modern visual style on iOS 26. The interface is based on translucency and layered depth effects that align with the iOS 26 design language. It introduces semi-transparent elements that create a sense of depth, especially visible in the floating tab bar. Buttons and interactive components have been redesigned with a soft, frosted glass appearance and more fluid animations. The keyboard and context menus now follow the same visual principles.

Three Key Changes Users Will Notice Immediately

You will notice immediate changes in three critical areas. First — the Floating Tab Bar: it is no longer a solid block at the base but a semi-transparent capsule with softened edges that appears to rise above the chat content. Second — Glassmorphic Contextual Menus: when you long-press a message, options appear on a translucent layer that reflects the colors of the background conversation. Third — the Integrated Keyboard: it no longer feels like an external accessory but rather an extension of the app, sharing the same transparency and fluidity effects.

Gradual Rollout — Not Available to Everyone Yet

As of early May 2026, the full Liquid Glass redesign is not yet available to the general public or even most beta users. Parts of it, like the updated voice message player, have rolled out to select iOS beta testers. The complete in-chat redesign is still in internal testing.

WhatsApp plans to release Liquid Glass to 100% of users only once every part of the interface is fully optimized — meaning a full release will happen when the chat screen and other elements are ready for Liquid Glass.

The Situation on Android

Android users should expect to wait, and may see a different visual execution when it eventually arrives, since Android doesn't have the same underlying glass rendering as iOS 26. Meta has not confirmed a timeline for Android.

Dropping Support for Older Android Versions

WhatsApp will drop support for older Android versions on September 8, 2026. Specifically, users with a device on Android 5.0 and 5.1 will no longer be able to use WhatsApp once the update takes effect.