Liquid glass design: What iPhone users should know about new WhatsApp interface
By Katemarthason Okudo, August 23, 2026WhatsApp is giving its iPhone app a noticeable visual makeover as the messaging platform continues expanding Apple’s Liquid Glass-inspired design across more parts of its interface.
The change gives the familiar app a lighter and more transparent appearance, with elements that appear to float over the content instead of sitting on solid backgrounds. For people who use WhatsApp regularly, the difference is most visible in the navigation and chat areas.
A more transparent WhatsApp
Liquid Glass is a design style introduced by Apple with iOS 26. It relies on translucent layers, rounded elements, and backgrounds that allow some of the content underneath to remain visible.
WhatsApp has been gradually adapting the style rather than changing the entire app at once.
The platform began rolling out its Liquid Glass redesign more widely on iOS in May 2026 after months of testing. The first changes included the bottom navigation bar and selected parts of the Chats interface.
The redesign has since moved into the chat screen, where the input area and navigation elements have taken on a more transparent appearance. For users, this means the familiar WhatsApp layout can look slightly different even though the main functions remain in the same places.
Message bubbles get a softer appearance
The changes are not limited to menus and navigation.
WhatsApp has also been updating the appearance of message bubbles, giving them a rounder and softer shape. Shared media has also received a cleaner presentation, reducing some of the borders seen in the older design.
The redesigned message bubbles began rolling out to iOS users in July, continuing the wider visual changes introduced to the chat interface. The aim appears to be consistency, with different parts of WhatsApp gradually adopting the same visual language.
More features could get the new look
WhatsApp is still working on expanding Liquid Glass beyond the areas already updated.
Recent reports indicate that the company is preparing the design for its drawing editor and video player. The drawing editor is used when adding text, drawings, and stickers to photos, videos, and GIFs before sharing them.
The video player could also receive a Liquid Glass-style progress bar. These changes are still being developed, meaning they may not be available to everyone immediately.
What users should expect
The Liquid Glass redesign does not change how WhatsApp works. Users can still send messages, make calls, share photos and videos, react to messages, and use the same familiar features.
What has changed is the visual experience. As WhatsApp continues updating the iOS app, some users may notice the new design before others because features can be introduced gradually.