WhatsApp is now testing the Liquid Glass redesign on iPad, bringing the same semi-transparent, glass-like interface elements that iPhone users have had access to since May. The update is in testing, and gives iPad users the same visual language introduced in iOS 26, though rollout remains limited to beta testers and select stable users for now.
As noted by WABetaInfo, the redesign introduces several visual changes specific to iPadOS. The tab bar at the bottom of the screen now floats above the interface as a semi-transparent element rather than sitting flat against the edge, a hallmark of the Liquid Glass aesthetic. Buttons respond with fluid animations when tapped, and the navigation bar at the top responds to scrolling in the chat list by gradually becoming more transparent as users scroll down, making the content underneath visible.
One notable difference from the iPhone version: iPad’s tab bar does not show text labels under the icons, relying instead on icons alone. This reflects the additional screen space available on tablet displays and the different interaction patterns users expect on larger screens.
WhatsApp’s approach to rolling out Liquid Glass has been deliberately staged across devices. The redesign first appeared on iPhone in limited testing in October 2025, then expanded to a broader audience in May 2026. iPad testing did not begin until late June, leaving a full month gap between the two platforms. Mac also has a Liquid Glass design update currently in development.
This staggered approach reflects how WhatsApp handles updates across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. While the underlying app code is shared across devices, WhatsApp deploys new features separately to each platform to monitor performance and catch bugs before they reach a wider audience. That means iPad users have been waiting months to see the same design language that iPhone users adopted earlier, and broader iPad availability remains unknown.
On iPhone, WhatsApp has already moved forward with additional Liquid Glass refinements, bringing the same translucent style to the chat bar and navigation bar within the conversation interface. Those changes are available to some iPhone users but have not yet appeared on iPad, widening the platform gap.
The Liquid Glass design on iPad is currently available only to a small subset of users, primarily beta testers, though some users on the stable version may also see it. WhatsApp has indicated that access will expand over the coming weeks but has not announced a broader rollout date or timeline.
