WhatsApp Starts Rolling Out Profile Pictures in iOS Message Notifications

WhatsApp is testing a helpful new feature on iOS that displays profile pictures in system notifications when users receive new messages from chats and groups.

whatsapp notification

Image credit: WABetaInfo

First spotted by app specialist WABetaInfo, the first new feature for the platform in 2022 uses APIs in iOS 15 to add the WhatsApp profile images to notifications in top-screen banners and in the Notification Center when users receive a message.

WhatsApp on Android has been able to display the profile pictures in system notifications for some time, so this change brings parity to the app across both platforms.

If you don't see the profile pictures in your notifications yet, that's because WhatsApp is first making the change for beta testers so they can report bugs, before the feature is rolled out to millions of users on iOS devices worldwide.

The last update to WhatsApp came in December, and was a privacy change to prevent people on the messaging platform from viewing the "Last Seen" status of users whom they have never chatted with.

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Top Rated Comments

TFK. Avatar
49 months ago
Now please fix the poor photo sharing resolution rate -.-"
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kiranmk2 Avatar
49 months ago
Where's that iPad app?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDento Avatar
49 months ago

I wish I could get away from WhatsApp, but so many people use it. I have got some Android family members on Viber. What's the best alternative?
My relatives and friends all use WhatsApp, even people with iPhones.

Apple should either make an iMessage app for Android and Windows, or they can just make an app that aggregates all texting apps into it, like how Files app works with OneDrive and Dropbox.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
conradolson Avatar
49 months ago

I wish I could get away from WhatsApp, but so many people use it. I have got some Android family members on Viber. What's the best alternative?
Signal. In the past few years the app as got a lot slicker. It has all the features that WhatsApp and it works really well.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Christoffee Avatar
49 months ago
I wish I could get away from WhatsApp, but so many people use it. I have got some Android family members on Viber. What's the best alternative?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
akbarali.ch Avatar
49 months ago

I wish I could get away from WhatsApp, but so many people use it. I have got some Android family members on Viber. What's the best alternative?
Telegram, i suppose. Even i'm trying to get away from it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)