WhatsApp has officially begun the rollout of a long-anticipated feature designed to solve “onboarding confusion” by allowing new group members to view recent chat history.
For over a decade, joining a group on the platform meant entering a “blank slate,” often forcing new participants to ask for context or request screenshots of previous discussions.
However, as of January 21, 2026, a new “Recent History Sharing” tool has started appearing for beta users on both Android (version 2.26.1.28) and iOS (version 26.2.10.73).
The feature is not an automatic archive but rather a manual, consent-based tool.
To ensure a balance between convenience and privacy, WhatsApp has implemented specific parameters that strictly govern what can be shared with newcomers.
The primary restriction is a message limit, which caps the transfer at a maximum of 100 recent messages.
This prevents overwhelming a new member while providing just enough context to understand the current direction of the conversation.
Furthermore, the feature utilizes a specific time window, meaning only content sent within the last 14 days is eligible for sharing.
Any discussions older than two weeks remain inaccessible to the new participant.
Finally, to prioritize default privacy, the option is disabled by default; it only becomes active if an admin or member manually engages a toggle during the “Add Member” flow, ensuring that chat history is never shared unintentionally.
Furthermore, to distinguish historical context from live chat, WhatsApp highlights these shared messages in a different colour.
In line with its privacy-first reputation, WhatsApp confirmed the feature maintains end-to-end encryption. The messages are pulled directly from the device of the person adding the newcomer and encrypted using their specific keys.
To maintain transparency, a system message is automatically posted in the group chat whenever history is shared, notifying all participants about who shared the messages and which new member received them.
Additionally, the app now displays “multiple confirmation prompts” to prevent accidental oversharing.
This update marks a significant step in WhatsApp’s evolution toward becoming a structured collaboration tool, similar to Slack or Discord.
The implementation of this change is expected to significantly streamline communication across a variety of sectors by removing the need for manual recaps.
In workplace groups, the update allows new collaborators to instantly catch up on task assignments and project timelines without disrupting the flow of the team.
Similarly, for social planning, late-joining participants can easily view previously settled details, such as venues and schedules, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Finally, within community groups, the feature reduces the burden on administrators by eliminating the need to repeat important announcements for every new member who joins the circle.
While the rollout is currently gradual to monitor performance, the stability of the beta suggests a wider public release is approaching.
For millions of users, this small adjustment turns a traditionally frustrating experience into a more welcoming, context-rich entry point.