I recognize that since the last major redesign of WhatsApp, I have missed a lot of the Meta messaging app. Lately new icons have not stopped arriving in the application – I have the beta after several attempts to access it and I receive them before – that I did not understand. I speak in the past tense because I caught up and can clear up any doubts in case you are as confused as I was.

A padlock, two different microphones, a double arrow… If you don’t understand the meaning of these badges that appear within the application, keep reading: They are very usefulas well as information. And it doesn’t hurt to follow the trail of WhatsApp, an app without rest in its development.

All the icons that are coming to WhatsApp

WhatsApp changes like life itself: what was previously an empty space at the bottom of WhatsApp is now a very nice little button. He app redesign Meta brought more clarity to the interface, just as it brought it closer to the design lines of Android (also iOS on the iPhone), but little by little it is introducing new icons.

Some add information wanting to tell us something, others are buttons that we can press to activate new functions. There is a little bit of everything, and if like me, you are confused with the latest WhatsApp news, it is worth reviewing its meaning and usefulness.

The lock icon below the contact name

First, a lock icon appeared in groups. In this case, it is only a matter of an informative badge. What does it indicate? This icon informs the conversation participants that it is a secure chat. WhatsApp applies end-to-end encryption to preserve our privacy.

You should also know that this icon, just as it appears, it disappears: After a few seconds it will be replaced by the indicator listing the group participants. If it is in an individual chat, it will leave its space to display the “Last time online” information.

The double arrow, this is its meaning

The double arrow icon in WhatsApp appears in the bottom corner of sent images, videos, documents or locations and has a clear purpose: to allow you to forward the item quickly and directly. It’s super useful if you want to share photos or videos that you just shared without having to hold your finger down and make extra touches on the screen.

And how do you use it? Simple: When you receive a file or other item, tap the double arrow icon to go to the forwarding screen. It is a useful tool to save time, especially when handling multimedia content. However, WhatsApp limits forwarding depending on the type of message: you can send it to five chats at once in most cases, but forwarded messages can often only be sent to an individual or group chat. This helps reduce the mass spread of viral or potentially problematic messages.

Sound waves icon in WhatsApp

An icon with sound waves has appeared in groups! No need to be scared (the first time I thought wrong), They are not listening to us without permissionis a function that appears in group chats and represents the possibility of starting a voice chat. By pressing the icon, this mode is activated silently, that is, it does not send mass notifications to all members. Each person in the group can join whenever they want, and if no one participates in an hour, the voice chat automatically closes.

Use is simple– Simply tap the waves icon, confirm the creation of the voice chat and wait for the other members of the group to join if they are interested. A discreet notification alerts them to the activity in progress. This change is part of the improvements that WhatsApp is implementing to diversify its communication options and make groups more dynamic and functional.

A new microphone that is not for sending audio

The new microphone icon in WhatsApp appears instead of the text that previously indicated that our contact was going to send a voice note. This change seeks to make the process more visual and less intrusive, moving the notification directly to the chat, just below the last message sent. The objective is to anticipate the user that they are about to receive an audio, maintaining the essence of the textual indicators, but with a cleaner and more modern design. This icon is informational only, so it does not react when touched or activate any function.

Although it seems like a minor detail, the change is useful for those of us who prefer a more minimalist interface. This icon replaces the typical text at the top of the chat, and its location within the conversation keeps the flow of messages more organized and direct. In essence, it improves the clarity of what is happening without taking up additional screen space​.

A few ellipses below the last message

Easy and simple, this icon replaces the classic “Writing…” that we all know. Now, when someone is typing, you’ll see this animation next to the last message in the chat, which adds a more discreet appearance to your conversations. In group chats, in addition to the ellipsis, the profile photo of the contact who is writing will appear, making it easy to quickly identify who is active.

However, the change does not completely remove the “Writing…” text. This will continue to appear in the main chat list while you are not in the specific conversation. It’s a small but functional update and comes hand in hand with the new microphone icon: They make a lot of sense.

Cover image | Edited Image Creator

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