WhatsApp starts testing green dot online contact indicator on iOS

WhatsApp Brings the Green Dot Online Indicator to iOS Beta

If you have been keeping an eye on recent updates, you might know that WhatsApp has been experimenting with a new visual cue on Android: a simple green dot to show when someone is currently active. Well, it looks like that feature is officially making the jump to Apple devices.

Reports from the team at WABetaInfo suggest that the latest iOS beta (version 26.26.10.72) now includes this functionality. If you are part of the beta testing group, you will notice a small green circle appearing on the bottom-right corner of a contact’s profile picture whenever they are online. Because it updates in real-time, the dot vanishes the second they step away from the app.

For now, the indicator is tucked away inside the “Contact Info” screen—you have to tap on their photo to see it. While it’s a handy addition, many users (myself included) would likely prefer to see this directly in the main chat list for at-a-glance convenience. Hopefully, that’s a tweak they consider before a wider rollout.

Privacy remains a priority

Naturally, some might worry about privacy, but WhatsApp has confirmed that the green dot follows your existing settings. If you’ve opted to hide your “Last Seen” or “Online” status from others, the green dot won’t appear for them either. It respects your current configuration, keeping things private as you prefer.

As of right now, this is still strictly a test feature for select beta users on both Android and iOS. There is no official word on when we might see it land in the public version of the app, so we’ll just have to wait and see if it makes the final cut.