About Time! WhatsApp is Finally Adding the Basic Contacts Tab We Should Have Had Years Ago

According to the latest findings from the specialized tech portal WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is developing a feature that will significantly simplify how users view their available contacts. The popular messaging app is introducing a dedicated “Contacts” tab, designed to bring your entire address book, online statuses, and upcoming birthdays into one unified, easy-to-navigate section.

WhatsApp’s initial plan, spotted in an earlier Android beta (2.26.13.3), was to bury this list deep within the app’s settings. However, the latest beta version (2.26.40.3) available on the Google Play Store reveals that the concept has evolved. Instead of a hidden menu, users will get a fully-fledged, standalone tab on the main screen, designed for faster and more intuitive interaction.

The new tab introduces an integrated search bar at the very top, allowing users to find contacts by name, number, or username. The main highlight is a prominent green dot on the profile pictures of users who are currently online. For the rest of the contacts, their “last seen” status will be displayed where available.

Users will have two sorting options for their address book: alphabetical or by activity. By selecting “Activity,” currently available contacts will automatically pin to the top of the list, while the rest will follow chronologically based on their last active session. Additionally, the bottom of the list will feature a shortcut to start a chat with the Meta AI assistant, alongside an “Invite a friend” option to share links with new users.

A practical and long-awaited addition to the new tab is the birthday reminder feature. Relying entirely on the data saved in the smartphone’s local address book, the app will display a cake emoji and a “Birthday today” banner next to the celebrant’s name. This means reminders will only appear for contacts whose birth dates are already logged on the device itself.

While the new tab makes tracking availability much easier, WABetaInfo emphasizes that user privacy remains untouched. The system strictly adheres to existing user settings—if a contact has hidden their online status or last seen timestamp, that information will remain invisible, regardless of the sorting method you choose.

The feature is currently under development and testing for Android devices, and the exact date when this update will roll out to the general public remains unknown.