Key Points:
- WhatsApp’s redesigned “About” feature is rolling out globally starting November 20, 2025
- About updates appear at the top of 1-on-1 chats and on user profiles for better visibility
- Users can reply directly to someone’s About by tapping it within the chat
- Auto-disappears after 24 hours by default, but timer can be customized to 1 hour, 8 hours, 2 days, 1 week, or custom duration
- Privacy controls allow users to choose who can see their About updates
- Similar to Instagram Notes but without music snippets and map locations
- Feature can be accessed via Settings > Set About or by tapping profile picture
WhatsApp has reintroduced its classic “About” feature, one of the platform’s earliest tools that predates even its messaging capabilities. The company has completely redesigned the feature to make it more modern, clean, and useful for today’s users. The new “About” feature lets you quickly share what you’re currently doing, making it easier to view and use in real-time conversations.
The redesign was done to allow it to be “more visible, timely, and easier to use,” according to WhatsApp’s official announcement. Unlike the old version that was tucked away in profile settings, the new About updates will appear prominently in the app, showing up at the top of one-on-one chats as well as on your profile page.
New ‘About’ Appears at Top of Chats with Direct Reply Option
The most significant change is the new placement of About updates. Your “About” will now appear at the top of 1-on-1 chats and on your profile, making it much harder to miss. This strategic placement ensures contacts get more context at a glance, whether it’s a quick mood update, an activity, or simply letting others know you’re available.
Importantly, you can reply to someone’s “About” directly from within the chat. This turns the feature into a more conversational touchpoint. Instead of broadcasting a Status to a wide audience, this gives contacts an easy way to start a chat based on whatever someone posts, without feeling intrusive. You can simply tap on a contact’s About update inside a chat to send a reply, making conversations even more seamless as you won’t need to search through menus.
How to Use the New WhatsApp About Feature
The new “About” feature is extremely simple and user-friendly. To set your About update, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone and head to Settings
- Tap the new “What’s happening” text that appears under your name
- Alternatively, tap your profile picture and select the “Set About” option
- In the About section, type your short text update (up to 50 characters) or choose from WhatsApp’s preset suggestions
- Choose how long the update should stay visible, 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 1 week, or a custom duration
- Tap Save and then tap the Set About button at the bottom-right corner of the screen
Another important part of this feature is its timer control. By default, the company has set it to auto-disappear after 1 day (24 hours). However, if you want your About to remain visible for a few hours or for several days, you can change it to your liking. This setting will help you auto-hide your status as needed, ensuring your profile stays fresh and relevant.
Privacy Controls for About Visibility
Privacy settings now also allow you to determine who can see your About. You can make it visible only to your contacts, or open it to more people if you prefer. This setting is very useful if you don’t want to share your status with everyone. Similar to WhatsApp Status visibility options, you can choose to share with all contacts or limit visibility to selected people through the privacy menu.
The feature includes robust privacy controls that give users complete control over their updates. All existing privacy controls still apply, allowing people to decide exactly who can view their About updates, making it a secure way to share temporary information.
Why This Feature is Special
This feature can be incredibly helpful if your daily plans change. You might be free now but busy in an hour. In such a situation, a simple sentence or even an emoji can let your friends know whether you’re currently available to chat. This feature can be a handy way to communicate your online activities without having to say a word.
The redesigned About provides real-time context with a simple update. Users can express their status using a combination of emojis and short phrases, helping contacts understand availability, mood, or priorities without needing a full message. While the experience is similar to Instagram Notes, Instagram currently supports extras such as music snippets and map locations, which are not available for WhatsApp’s About updates at the moment.
Global Rollout and Feature Availability
WhatsApp announced that the updated About feature is rolling out to all users this week. The refresh is part of ongoing efforts to make the platform more expressive and user-friendly while maintaining its core focus on privacy and personal communication. The feature is positioned as a quick way to let others know what you’re up to, whether you are busy, free to talk, or want to share a short thought using text or an emoji.
The rollout started on November 20, 2025, and is being pushed to all mobile users globally. Users who don’t see the feature immediately should receive it in the coming days as the rollout progresses gradually across different regions and device types.
