WhatsApp is expanding Channel Status to more channels on iPhone and Android. The feature lets channel admins post photo and video updates that disappear after 24 hours, and followers can like an update or reshare it to their own status.
WhatsApp first launched Channel Status in May for a limited number of users and channels, with plans to widen access over time. WABetaInfo reports that the feature is now reaching more admins on the latest versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS.
At launch, admins could share photos, videos, layouts and text. These updates sit in the Status tray inside the Updates tab, right next to status updates from your contacts.
Admins can post a Channel Status from the Updates tab or from the channel itself
When a channel has access to the feature, WhatsApp adds a button at the top of the Updates tab. It sits beside the button for sharing your own status update. Tapping it lets the admin pick the media they want to share and edit it with text, stickers and other tools.
The second route runs through the channel. A plus button appears next to the channel icon at the top of the screen and opens the same status editor. That makes it quicker for an admin to push out a short update without leaving the channel they manage. Admins on Android and iPhone can use either route.
Followers see Channel Status in three places and it clears itself after 24 hours
Once an admin posts a Channel Status, followers can find it in three places.
- The status tray in the Updates tab, alongside updates from contacts
- The top app bar inside the channel, where it appears as a special update
- The channel info screen, where followers can see what the channel shared
Every update disappears automatically after 24 hours. Regular channel updates stay visible indefinitely once an admin posts them, so Channel Status gives admins a home for content that does not need to last, such as a time-sensitive announcement. The 24-hour window also gives followers a reason to open the channel more often.
WhatsApp has been busy with channels on iPhone lately, adding a permanent AI content label for channel admins and a one-tap search shortcut for chats and channels.
WhatsApp decides which channels get Channel Status. Admins cannot request access, and WhatsApp has not said which channels qualify or when every channel will have the feature. The rollout is gradual, so not every admin sees the button yet. If it is missing from your channel, WhatsApp has not enabled it there.
