WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will give users more control over managing their unread message count in its Android app. This feature is currently under development, so beta testers who signed up through the Google Play Beta Program may not have access yet. The reported feature can be a boon for those who receive a high volume of text messages in the app and find it difficult to manage conversations as a result.
According to a report by WhatsApp update tracker WABetaInfo, the instant messaging platform is testing a new feature that will reset the unread message count every time a user opens the app. Although the feature was seen in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android 2.24.11.13, it is currently not active, and beta users may not find it when they install the latest beta version. According to the report, this feature will be accessible (once WhatsApp makes it visible) via Notifications configurations
WhatsApp unread message count feature
Photo credit: WABetaInfo
Based on a screenshot shared by the post, a new one Configuration option has been added Notifications. Currently, under the light option, users can see two options: one allows them to enable notification previews and another shows reaction notifications. A new option appears in the screenshot between these two options titled Clear unread when app is opened. Its description reads: “Your unread message count will be cleared each time the app is opened.”
This could be a convenient feature for those who are overwhelmed by a large volume of text messages. For example, I get 15-20 new messages every day and sometimes it's hard to go through them all. Some of them may not even require you to answer them. However, if I don't open them, the chats The icon at the bottom will continue to show the number of chats I have left unread. The same problem can be faced by those who add to several groups with a large number of messages.
While it's a minor inconvenience to see the app unorganized with tons of unread messages, it's good to see the platform consider that this might be ruining the experience for some users. The report highlights that when a user turns on the setting, every time they open the app, the unread count will reset to zero, eliminating the need to manually open each chat.
