WhatsApp Update Brings Text Formatting for Messages and More

WhatsApp is releasing a set of message related updates for its Android and iOS apps. The new update brings text formatting options including bold, italics and strikethrough. All of these can be used together as well. The update was initially tested in the WhatsApp beta channel during the past two weeks. It is now officially available via the Play Store.

How to Format Text In Whatsapp

The text formatting feature should work on any WhatsApp app with version v2.12.535 and above. Bear in mind that the current version is in beta. Just like other apps which support text formatting, a user needs to add a symbol to both sides of a word, sentence or phrase to change the default format. Here’s a guide on how you can format your messages:

• To bold your text messages, simply add an asterisk (*) to both sides of the text you want to format. Example: *bold* will appear as “bold” when the message is sent.
• To change any text to Italics, you need to add underscore (_) to both sides of the text or word that needs to be formatted. Example: _italics _ will appear as “italics” when the message is sent.
• To strikethrough a word or sentence, add a tilde (~) to both sides of the text. Example: ~strikethrough~ will appear as “strikethrough”

All of these options can be used simultaneously as well. The user needs to simply add the relevant symbol to both sides of the word or phrase and repeat the process for other formatting options as well.

When someone receives a message from anyone while using the latest version of the app, the name of the sender will be in bold in the notification shade. The formatting of the message will also appear in the message previews in the notifications.

Coming Soon to the Stable App Version

WhatsApp beta channel has added some new features as well. These features will be added to the stable release within a couple of weeks. The nifty addition includes a Quick Reply feature in the notification area. Other changes include a multiple selection ability for contacts and chats. New solid color background options have also been introduced.

The Quick Reply feature is not meant for Android N and doesn’t work like the Hangouts one. Tapping the reply button opens a popup instead of an inline text box or the full app. You also get the typical voice reply button and the View button (which opens the app).

As far as multiple selection is concerned, tapping a profile icon or chat group adds the chat or contact to the selected list. Depending on the types of chats selected, individual, group or both, certain menu options are available as well.

Finally, go to WhatsApp settings > Chats > Wallpaper > Solid color to set a universal solid background. The same can also be set for individual chats.

You will have to wait a few weeks to get the new update or head to the WhatsApp beta group and get the unstable version of the app to try the features before anyone else.