WhatsApp’s text status feature which was removed last month following a Snapchat-like update has now made a return in the latest update. The old status feature is available for the stable version 2.17.107 of the app while the feature has already made a comeback in beta version 2.17.95.
In order to find the text status feature, open the app – navigate to the three dot menu – Settings – tap on your profile picture – About and phone number. Inside About and phone number you can write anything as your text and this time it will not disappear within 24 hours. Further, it also comes in default options such as At home, At School, Sleeping, Busy etc. However, we still don’t get the old contacts tab instead to view someone’s status you have to either open the concerned contact’s profile, send a message or see it through group info if he/she is in the same group.
As of now, the feature has been brought back to Android ecosystem only but we expect an iOS update for the same soon.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp has now added the GIF support to Google’s own keyboard app, Gboard as well. While the GIF gallery has been there in the app for over two months now (for Android), users couldn’t search for GIFs if they chose to enter emojis via Gboard and not from app’s own Emoji menu. However, the latest beta update now adds support for GIF in Gboard as well. The beta version which has added the support for Gboard is 2.17.110.
Coming back to the WhatsApp Status update, while the old text status has made a comeback, we don’t expect the new Stories-like status feature to be pulled down anytime soon. If you want to downgrade your WhatsApp version to good old version, follow this guide –How to bring back the old WhatsApp Messenger: Step-by-Step Guide