WhatsApp began rolling out on August 4 an update that adds an @all notification command and revises group-chat tools, according to WIRED. The messaging platform now counts over 3 billion users and has supported groups of up to 1,024 members since 2022. The update follows group-focused releases earlier this year, including group message history, member tags, and event reminders.
@all notifications and admin controls
WIRED reported that typing @all sends a notification to every member of a group, including participants who muted the chat. The command is designed to override chat-level mute settings and notification preferences, and WhatsApp pitches it for urgent updates, changes, and last-minute cancellations.
WhatsApp anticipated the spam potential, WIRED reported, and built two safeguards:
- In groups with more than 32 people, only admins can trigger @all.
- The override has an off switch, and users can manually mute @all alerts in notification settings, separately from muting the chat itself.
WIRED noted the 32-person threshold is the same cap WhatsApp applies to group calls, serving as what the outlet described as the platform's rough dividing line between a chat and a broadcast channel.
Polling upgrades
WhatsApp's polling feature has been in place since 2022 and is end-to-end encrypted, according to WIRED. The latest update adds three pragmatic fixes:
- An end time that automatically locks voting when it expires, creating a hard deadline for the group.
- An option to hide voter names; polls were previously transparent by design, showing who voted for what.
- The ability to edit a poll question within 15 minutes of posting, the same grace window WhatsApp gives for editing a regular message.
Creating group chats from existing groups
WIRED also reported that WhatsApp is formalizing the splinter chat. Users can create a new group chat from an existing one in a single tap, pulling members into a smaller group without manually adding them one by one. The official use cases, according to WIRED, are surprises and side conversations that would otherwise clutter the main chat.
Usernames are coming
Away from group chats, WhatsApp recently announced that usernames will launch later this year, allowing people to connect without sharing phone numbers, according to WIRED. The optional feature is designed as an added privacy layer. Usernames can be changed or removed at any time and do not need to match an identity on another platform. Reservations began rolling out in June, with eligible users able to claim a new name or transfer an existing Facebook or Instagram handle under the Account section in Settings. Users can add a unique four-digit key before allowing someone to contact them. WIRED reported that WhatsApp says names associated with celebrities, public figures, and government bodies, including convincing imitations, will be reserved for their legitimate owners.
Feature snapshot
| Feature | What changed | Admin or user control |
|---|---|---|
| @all notifications | Notifies every member, even muted chats | Only admins in groups over 32; off switch; separate mute control |
| Poll end times | Voting locks automatically at expiration | Set per poll |
| Anonymous polls | Voter names can be hidden | Set per poll |
| Poll editing | Editable within 15 minutes of posting | Set per poll |
| Group creation | One tap to start a group from existing members | Any user |
| Usernames | Connect without phone numbers; four-digit key | Optional; reservations began in June |
For group administrators, the @all command gives a broadcast channel that can reach every participant in urgent situations, while the admin-only rule above 32 members limits who can trigger it. The polling deadline feature gives time-bound decisions a hard cut-off, and the 15-minute edit window covers last-second corrections. Usernames, meanwhile, give external contacts a way to reach a WhatsApp user without exposing a phone number.
Sources:
