WhatsApp could soon see a major visual refresh in its Android app with a new floating navigation bar in the next few months. The messaging platform is testing a new bottom navigation design that separates the navigation area from the rest of the interface and has been redesigned as a rounded and pill-shaped navigation bar. WhatsApp’s new navigation bar was introduced in WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.26.38.10 and is likely inspired by the floating tab bar of WhatsApp’s iPhone version, which has already been used in WhatsApp’s Android app.
The upcoming redesign is still in development so Android users cannot officially try it yet (even those in the beta programme). WhatsApp may change the design further before it becomes available for testers or eventually in general to the public. For now, the update offers an early insight into how the company is revamping navigation on Android.
WhatsApp Tests Floating Bottom Navigation Bar
The most noticeable change is at the bottom of the WhatsApp interface. Where there is a navigation bar that visually stretches across the width of the screen, the new design places the controls in a floating element with rounded corners. So the navigation area has a more distinct look and is seen as a layer above the main interface.
The core navigation sections are not completely redesigned. The interface still offers access to the app’s core areas like Chats, Updates, Communities, and Calls, but WhatsApp’s larger navigation experiments could impact how these sections are arranged in future versions.
The focus of this update is therefore on the visual rather than functional side. Users should not expect the redesigned bar to have a major new messaging feature. It seems, instead, the intention is to make the Android application cleaner and more contemporary.
WhatsApp Android Design Takes Inspiration From iPhone
The new Android interface has similarities with the floating tab bar introduced in WhatsApp's iOS redesign. On iPhone, WhatsApp has been adopting Apple's Liquid Glass design language, including floating and translucent interface elements. The Android version appears to borrow the concept of a detached, rounded navigation bar while retaining a design more suitable for Android.
This means Android users should not expect an exact copy of the iPhone interface. The Android version is expected to maintain its own visual treatment rather than reproducing the translucent glass effect seen on iOS. The rounded floating shape is the most obvious similarity between the two platforms.
That approach would enable WhatsApp to have more visual consistency across Android and iPhone while still maintaining differences between the operating systems.
Light And Dark Modes Are Expected To Support The New Look
The redesigned navigation bar is being developed for light and dark themes. According to the feature tracker, the difference is particularly noticeable in the light theme, although the final appearance might change as WhatsApp continues to refine the interface.
Theme support will be critical since the floating navigation element needs to be clearly visible against different wallpapers, backgrounds, and chat interfaces. WhatsApp will likely make further adjustments to spacing, colours, borders, and other visual elements before the feature reaches a wider audience.
The feature is still in development, so users should treat the currently presented design as an early version and not a final design.
Which WhatsApp Version Has The Redesign?
The floating navigation bar was discovered in WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.26.38.10. But simply installing this version does not mean the redesigned interface is available. The feature has not been enabled for beta testers and is still in development.
This is a common part of WhatsApp’s development process. Features can be included in a beta app before they are activated for users. WhatsApp can then continue modifying the feature internally before gradually making it available to selected testers.
So until now, there is no known date for when the floating navigation bar will be available in the stable Android version.
Why WhatsApp Is Changing Its Android Interface
WhatsApp is gradually reworking navigation for different platforms. Android gained its current bottom navigation style a few years ago and it moved the main sections closer to the lower portion of the display. The change was made to make important areas easier to reach on modern smartphones.
The new experiment is another step in the design evolution. Rather than changing where users find the main sections, WhatsApp is changing how those controls are presented.
A floating navigation bar can also give the interface more visual separation. Instead of a strip on the bottom edge of the screen that is permanent, the bar can look like an independent control panel. This approach has become more and more common in modern mobile interfaces.
Android And iPhone Experiences Could Look More Consistent
One of the possible effects of the redesign is that WhatsApp on Android and iPhone will have a lot of visual consistency. The two versions of WhatsApp have historically shared many core features while maintaining platform-specific interface designs.
Recently, WhatsApp's iOS updates have been heavily focused on Apple's Liquid Glass design language. The company has brought floating and translucent elements to various areas of the iPhone app like the tab bar and chat interface.
The Android floating navigation experiment does not mean WhatsApp is bringing Liquid Glass to Android. Instead, it suggests the company is adopting a similar broader design idea, using floating interface components and rounded elements — while keeping the Android application visually distinct.
WhatsApp Could Still Change The Design
The most important thing for Android users is that the feature is not final. WhatsApp could change the shape, spacing, or appearance of the navigation bar before it reaches beta testers. The company could also change navigation as development continues.
Therefore, the version currently being tracked should be seen as an indication of what WhatsApp is considering rather than a confirmed preview of the final release.
If WhatsApp eventually provides beta testers with the feature, they will have a chance to see how the floating bar works on different Android phones and screen sizes. A wider stable rollout would likely happen only after the company completes testing and makes any necessary refinements.
When Will The Floating Navigation Bar Arrive?
WhatsApp has not announced an official release date for the redesigned Android navigation bar. It's still under development in beta code and not available even to beta testers.
For Android users, the upcoming change is very much about appearance over functionality. If it is released, the floating navigation bar would make WhatsApp look more contemporary as well as bring its Android interface visually closer to the company's evolving iPhone design.
And for now, users will have to wait for WhatsApp to enable the feature in a future beta update for the feature to be released publicly before it can be tested on the app itself.
