WhatsApp Tests Contacts Tab on Android
A limited set of Android beta users can now try a Contacts tab that replaces Communities in the bottom navigation bar.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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WhatsApp has begun beta testing a Contacts tab on Android that replaces the Communities tab in the bottom navigation bar for some testers. Communities remain accessible through a filter in the Chats tab.
Why it matters
The redesign would centralize contact management inside the app, placing frequently used contacts and a Meta AI shortcut in one hub. It reflects ongoing experimentation with how users navigate the messaging platform.
The Contacts tab syncs with the phone address book, transferring only entries containing a phone number, and contacts can be sorted alphabetically, by birthdays, or by activity. A green indicator marks which contacts are online, but the beta's rollout size and wider release timing have not been disclosed.
The players
WhatsApp is a messaging platform owned by Meta that is used by billions of people worldwide.
Meta AI
Meta AI is the assistant developed by Meta Platforms and integrated across its messaging apps.
The details
The Contacts tab includes a Favorites section for frequently used contacts, and a floating action button for adding new contacts using first name, last name, username, and phone number fields. A Meta AI shortcut appears at the end of the contact list, letting users start a chat with the assistant.
Timeline
October: Redesign first noted as under development by WABetaInfo.
November 9, 2026: Beta availability of the Contacts tab reported.
Roadmap
WhatsApp's Contacts tab extends Meta's effort to embed its Meta AI assistant directly into the messaging app's core navigation. The test follows a broader pattern of Meta folding AI features into its existing social and messaging products.
Android beta users in the test group may find contacts, favorites, and Meta AI in a single tab instead of Communities in the bottom bar. Communities stay reachable through a Chats filter, so group access is preserved while the navigation layout changes.
The takeaway
If you use WhatsApp on Android, check whether your beta build shows the Contacts tab, since Communities remain available through the Chats filter. Beta layouts can change, so expect the navigation to shift before any stable release.
Further reading
For broader context on how AI assistants are reshaping messaging, see Artificial Intelligence coverage on Wisevoter.
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