WhatsApp is currently testing a streamlined menu option for iOS users designed to simplify the selection and copying of multiple messages within the application. The update addresses a noted difference in functionality between the iOS and Android versions of the messaging platform.
The feature is being rolled out to beta testers through the WhatsApp beta program for iOS via TestFlight. This new option aims to create a more intuitive user experience, aligning the iOS platform closer to the functionality currently available on Android devices. On Android, users can long-press a message to initiate the selection of multiple texts, a feature that has not been natively available on iOS until now.
WABetaInfo, a source for WhatsApp updates, identified the “Select multiple” option in WhatsApp beta for iOS, version 25.22.10.77. This beta version is accessible to users who have enrolled in the beta program to test upcoming features. The addition of this feature suggests WhatsApp’s responsiveness to user feedback and its commitment to platform parity.
According to WABetaInfo’s findings, the “Select multiple” option becomes visible once a user selects a single message within a chat. After selecting this option, users can tap on other messages to add them to the selection. These selected messages can then be forwarded, deleted, or shared using the options displayed at the bottom of the screen. This contrasts sharply with the existing method on the stable iOS version.
Presently, iOS users must long-press a message, select “Forward,” and then select multiple messages to achieve a similar outcome. This multi-step process has been seen as less efficient. WhatsApp introduced the ability to select a specific portion of text from a single message in June. The new “Select multiple” menu option is anticipated to be released to the stable version of WhatsApp for iOS in a future update, pending successful testing and feedback from beta users.
