Meta Adds New Features To WhatsApp

Meta has announced new features for WhatsApp as part of its new Meta One subscription service, giving users more options to personalise the app, manage chats and handle backups.

The announcement was made on September 15, 2026, when Meta introduced Meta One, a subscription service bringing together more than 50 features across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Meta AI. The standard WhatsApp experience will remain free, while some additional features will be available to subscribers.

WhatsApp Plus Gets More Features

The new WhatsApp features are being introduced through WhatsApp Plus, Meta's paid subscription option for users who want additional features beyond the standard app.

WhatsApp Plus includes extra personalisation options such as custom themes and icons, special sticker effects and the ability to pin more chats. Meta is now preparing more features for the service, including new options for backups and chat management.

Chat And Media Backup Storage Is Coming

One of the new features Meta is preparing to test is additional storage for WhatsApp chat and media backups.

This is aimed at users who want more space to keep backups of their conversations and media files. Meta has not presented the feature as a replacement for the existing free WhatsApp experience. Instead, it is part of the additional features being tested through WhatsApp Plus.

WhatsApp Will Test Focus Schedules

Another upcoming feature is Focus Schedules.

The feature will allow users to set specific times for selected chats to be muted or hidden. This could make it easier to keep certain conversations out of the way during periods such as work, study or sleep.

Rather than manually muting or hiding chats every time, users will be able to set a schedule for when those controls should apply.

More Personalisation For WhatsApp Users

WhatsApp Plus also gives subscribers more ways to change the appearance of the app.

Users can access additional themes, icons and sticker effects, while the option to pin more chats can make frequently used conversations easier to find.

These features are aimed at users who want more control over how WhatsApp looks and how their chats are organised.

Meta One Brings More Features Together

Meta One is not limited to WhatsApp.

The subscription service combines features from WhatsApp Plus, Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus, along with expanded access to some Meta AI tools. Meta says more than 50 features are available across its apps as the service begins rolling out.

The higher Meta One plans also provide greater access to AI features for creating and editing images and generating videos using Meta's Muse models.

WhatsApp Will Remain Free

The introduction of WhatsApp Plus does not mean that users have to pay to continue using WhatsApp.

Meta says the core experience across its apps will remain free. The paid subscriptions are for users who want additional features and expanded access to certain tools.

This means users who do not want the extra features can continue using WhatsApp without subscribing to WhatsApp Plus.

What WhatsApp Users Need To Know

The latest changes are mainly about giving users more options rather than changing the basic way WhatsApp works.

WhatsApp Plus subscribers will get access to additional personalisation features, while Meta is preparing tests for chat and media backup storage and Focus Schedules. Availability of specific features can depend on the user's account, location and rollout stage.

For regular WhatsApp users, messaging and other core features will continue to be available without a subscription.

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