Open WhatsApp’s settings on Android today and you get one long, flat list. That is set to change: WhatsApp is working on a redesigned Settings experience built on Google’s Material 3 Expressive design, with options grouped into rounded sections — and a tidier chat backup screen hiding behind it.
The redesign was spotted by WABetaInfo in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.43.3. Here is what it looks like, what else is moving, and the honest status of when you can expect it.
Key Takeaways
- The new Settings groups account, privacy, notifications and other options into rounded, segmented containers, following Google’s Material 3 Expressive style.
- The chat backup screen is being reworked too: a simple status view with a manual backup button, while auto-backup, video backup and encryption options move to a separate screen.
- A new “Previous Backups” section on Android may let you delete old and duplicate backups to reclaim storage.
- This is in development, not a rollout: it has not reached public beta testers yet, and WhatsApp has announced no release date.
- Early descriptions indicate no functional changes — the same settings, reorganised.
What the New Settings Look Like
The redesign borrows the segmented-list look of Material 3 Expressive, the design language Google uses across Android. Instead of a flat list, each section’s items sit inside one rounded container: the first item gets deep curves at the top, the last at the bottom, and items in between share smaller joins — making each group read as a single connected card.
According to WABetaInfo’s reporting, the style will extend across the account, privacy, notifications and other settings pages, not just the top-level menu. Functionally, nothing is being added or removed in what has been seen so far — it is the same WhatsApp, wearing a cleaner coat.
The Backup Screen Gets Its Own Cleanup
The more practical change sits in backups:
- The main backup screen is simplified to show backup status plus a button to create a backup manually.
- Auto-backup settings, the include-videos option, and end-to-end encryption settings move to their own separate screen.
- On Android, a “Previous Backups” section is in the works, which may let users delete older or duplicate backups — a genuinely useful addition for anyone whose Google Drive is quietly filling up with WhatsApp history.
When Will You Get It?
Not yet — and it is worth being precise about that. The redesign is still under development: it was identified inside the 2.26.43.3 beta build’s code and interface work, but it has not been switched on for beta testers, and WhatsApp has given no public release date.
That puts it a step earlier than features like profile cover photos, which are already visible to some beta accounts. Realistically, expect the new Settings to surface for beta testers first, then roll out gradually if WhatsApp keeps the design.
The Bottom Line
None of this changes how WhatsApp works — but Settings is where privacy controls, backups and account security live, and a clearer layout makes those things easier to find and harder to mis-set. The backup rework, especially deleting old backups from inside the app, is the change with real everyday value. For now, file it under “in development”: interesting, promising, and not on your phone yet.
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FAQs
What is the WhatsApp settings redesign?
WhatsApp is rebuilding its Android Settings using Google’s Material 3 Expressive design: options are grouped into rounded, segmented containers instead of one flat list. The chat backup screen is also being simplified, with a new “Previous Backups” area for managing old backups.
When will the new WhatsApp settings be available?
There is no announced date. The redesign was spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.43.3 and is still under development — it has not yet been enabled for beta testers.
Does the redesign change any WhatsApp features?
Based on early descriptions, no. The same settings and functions remain; they are reorganised visually. The backup flow is restructured, and managing previous backups looks like the main practical addition.
Can I delete old WhatsApp backups in the app now?
Not yet. The “Previous Backups” section is part of the in-development redesign. Today, deleting old backups still has to be done from Google Drive on Android.
