WhatsApp is experimenting with threaded replies on Android, a feature designed to make busy group conversations easier to follow. The update, spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.25.7 by WABetaInfo, introduces a new way for users to track side discussions without losing context.
How Threaded Replies Work
Group-only feature: Threads are available exclusively in group chats.
Activation rule: A thread begins when a message receives at least two replies from different users.
“X replies” indicator: A small counter appears under the original message. Tapping it opens a dedicated thread view.
Follow-up replies: Responses inside the thread are tagged and still appear in the main chat feed.
No nesting: Threads cannot spawn sub-threads, keeping things simple.
Limited to new replies: Older messages will not be reorganized into threads.
Cross-compatibility: Early testing shows threads remain visible even if some users don’t yet have the feature enabled.
Why It Matters
Large WhatsApp groups often become chaotic as side conversations overlap. Threaded replies aim to reduce clutter by grouping related responses, similar to how Reddit or X (formerly Twitter) handle comment chains—though WhatsApp’s version is less complex.
Still, there are tradeoffs. Threads can help with clarity but may also fragment discussions if members spread across multiple side threads. Ensuring parity between Android, iOS, and web clients will also be key to avoiding confusion.
The feature is currently limited to a small pool of Android beta testers, with no official timeline for a wider release. If successful, threaded replies could become one of WhatsApp’s most impactful quality-of-life upgrades, reshaping how users manage conversations in large groups.
