WhatsApp's gradual transition to the Liquid Glass aesthetic is about to reach a major milestone. While the refreshed look has been trickling out to the main Chats screen over recent months, Meta is now quietly working on extending the same visual language to the in-chat interface. This move signals a deeper commitment to a cohesive, modern design identity across the entire app.
What Is Liquid Glass?
Liquid Glass is a design philosophy that blends translucent surfaces, soft gradients, and subtle blur effects to create a sense of depth and fluidity. Think frosted glass panels layered over vibrant backgrounds, with elements that appear to float and react to user interaction. Meta first introduced it in select apps as part of a broader effort to unify the user experience across its ecosystem—and WhatsApp is the latest to receive the treatment.
The Slow Rollout So Far
Initial deployment of Liquid Glass to WhatsApp's main Chats screen has been characteristically measured. Users on beta versions began seeing transparent navigation bars, softened shadows, and dynamic color accents that adapt based on chat themes. The rollout has been described as glacially paced, with Meta seemingly prioritizing stability and performance over speed. Now, internal builds indicate that the in-chat interface—the core messaging canvas—is next in line.
What Changes in the In-Chat Interface?
Based on early code references and design mockups, the in-chat Liquid Glass update is expected to introduce:
- Translucent chat bubbles with reduced opacity, letting wallpaper colors show through.
- Floating action buttons (attach, camera, voice note) with a glass-like, blurred backdrop.
- Dynamic header that adapts to the chat wallpaper while maintaining readability.
- Smoother transitions between messages and media, with layered depth cues.
These changes aim to make conversations feel less like static text boxes and more like living panels that integrate with the user's personal theme choices.
Design Consistency Across Meta Apps
This in-chat refresh is part of a larger cross-app strategy. Instagram and Facebook Messenger have already adopted similar glass-like elements in their messaging sections. By bringing Liquid Glass to WhatsApp's conversation screens, Meta ensures that users switching between its platforms experience a familiar visual language. For WhatsApp, it also means aligning with Material You principles on Android while keeping the iOS version visually coherent.
User Anticipation and Feedback
The WhatsApp community has been vocal about the long wait for visual updates. Forum discussions show a mix of excitement over the added polish and frustration over the incremental rollout pace. Many users appreciate the subtlety of Liquid Glass—it enhances without overwhelming—but hope that Meta will accelerate the schedule once the in-chat version is ready for beta testing.
What This Means for Developers and Designers
The move to Liquid Glass introduces new considerations for third-party developers building on WhatsApp's API and for designers creating themes. The blurred, translucent elements may affect how custom bubble styles and stickers appear, and performance optimizations will be needed for older devices where real-time blur can be taxing. Meta is expected to provide updated design guidelines alongside the rollout.
Timeline and Conclusion
While no official release date has been announced for the in-chat Liquid Glass update, current evidence suggests it is being actively developed and may appear in a future beta channel within weeks. Given WhatsApp's history, a gradual phased rollout—starting with a small percentage of beta users—is the most likely path. Once stabilized, it will eventually reach all users through a standard app update.
The completion of this visual overhaul will mark a significant step in WhatsApp's evolution from a utilitarian messaging tool to a more expressive, design-forward platform. For now, users can expect to see the familiar Chats screen start to shimmer with Liquid Glass effects, with the in-chat experience following close behind.