WhatsApp Re-Testing 'Clear Badge' Feature for Unread Messages

WhatsApp is retesting a recently nixed setting that lets users choose whether the app automatically clears the unread message count badge on its Home Screen icon after every launch.

Whatsapp Feature
WABetaInfo reports that the feature is controlled by a new toggle in WhatsApp's iOS notification settings, called "Clear Badge." The setting carries the description: "Your home screen badge clears completely after every time you open the app."

The option, which is already available in WhatsApp for Android, should serve to reduce clutter on the user's Home Screen, and potentially lessen "unread anxiety." WABetaInfo notes that the feature may have already appeared for some users in the past few weeks, including those on the stable release from the App Store. However, for reasons that remain unclear, WhatsApp decided to disable them shortly after their initial release.

The feature is currently making its way through beta testing again via TestFlight, so expect it to roll out to all WhatsApp users in the coming days.

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Top Rated Comments

deg0ey Avatar
21 weeks ago
Isn’t that how it always worked? Most annoying thing about WhatsApp is that if you leave a message to read later the badge disappears and you have to remember to go back to it on your own unlike almost every other app.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OhFrenchman Avatar
21 weeks ago
Yes, and you can disable that behavior, the setting has been present for a while. Just disable "Clear badge" in the Notifications settings of WhatsApp.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
revfife Avatar
21 weeks ago
I know it has a big user base in the rest of the world, but the only thing I've seen WhatsApp used for in the states is spoofing phone numbers and scam artists. I know several people who have had their instagram accounts hacked through WhatsApp spoofing.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alayal Avatar
21 weeks ago

Yes, and you can disable that behavior, the setting has been present for a while. Just disable "Clear badge" in the Notifications settings of WhatsApp.
I have missed this feature, it is the most annoying thing about WhatsApp and now it solve, thank you!
Hopefully some day they add a AW app…
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joeblow7777 Avatar
21 weeks ago
That's nice, but I wish they would just make an iPad app already.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
21 weeks ago
I wish Apple had a universal setting for read notifications. Every time I touch my iPad, I am being greeted with a million notifications, dating back days, which I have already cleared on my iPhone.

Somehow this actually works with WhatsApp, even between iPhone, Android and MacBook. I read the message on one device, it turns to read on the other devices yet apps like instagram … nope
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)