WhatsApp Tests Automatic Folder for Business Messages to Reduce Chat Clutter

WhatsApp is addressing user concerns about cluttered chat lists caused by messages from large businesses. The company is testing a new feature that moves messages from major businesses, such as banks and airlines, into a separate "Offers & Updates" folder after a set period.

Key Highlights

• WhatsApp is testing a folder for messages from large businesses to reduce chat list clutter.
• Messages move to the Offers & Updates folder after up to 24 hours in the main chat list.
• Users can disable the feature but cannot set a custom duration for message movement.
• Small business and personal messages are not affected by this feature currently.

New Folder for Business Messages

According to recent reports, WhatsApp is experimenting with automatically transferring business messages out of the main chat list. The feature targets messages from large businesses and aims to keep users' main chats organized. After a certain number of hours, these messages will move to the "Offers & Updates" folder.

WhatsApp is currently testing different time durations for this automatic move, with the maximum being 24 hours. This means that messages from large businesses will remain in the main chat list for up to 24 hours before shifting to the new folder.

User Control and Feature Limitations

Users will have the option to disable this feature in the app's settings if they prefer to keep all messages in the main chat list. However, WhatsApp will not allow users to set a custom duration for when messages move to the folder. Users must either accept the default duration set by WhatsApp or turn the feature off entirely.

The primary goal of this update is to remove less urgent messages, such as discount codes or delivery updates, from the main chat list. This helps users focus on personal and more important conversations.

Scope and Future Plans

Currently, the feature only applies to messages from large businesses. Messages from small businesses and personal accounts will remain in the main chat list for now. However, WhatsApp may consider including small business messages in the "Offers & Updates" folder in future updates.

This move reflects WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to improve user experience by reducing chat list clutter. The company continues to test and refine features based on user feedback and evolving needs.