WhatsApp Introduces Mac-Style Sidebar to iPad App in Gradual Rollout

WhatsApp has begun rolling out a new iPad interface centered on a collapsible sidebar modeled after its Mac application. The change replaces the existing bottom tab bar and is now available to some users on both the TestFlight beta and the public App Store version.

How the Sidebar Changes iPad Navigation

The sidebar provides direct access to Chats, Updates, Communities, Calls, and Meta AI. It mirrors the layout already live on WhatsApp for Mac. Users may hide the sidebar to expand both the chat list and conversation view toward the center of the screen, reducing visual compression and prioritizing message content.

Because of the iPad’s larger display, the sidebar occupies screen space without impeding simultaneous visibility of the chat list and active conversation. Still, WABetaInfo notes that some users prefer the expanded view when focusing solely on messaging—making the toggle function a key usability feature.

Development Timeline and Beta Progression

WhatsApp began adapting its iOS app for the Liquid Glass visual overhaul in October of last year. The iPad-specific implementation entered limited beta testing in June, introducing Liquid Glass–style tabs, buttons, and context menus while retaining the iPhone-style bottom navigation bar at that stage.

The current update marks a structural departure: the bottom tab bar is now replaced by default with the sidebar. This shift follows several months of Liquid Glass beta evaluation across platforms.

Rollout Status and Availability

As reported by WABetaInfo, the sidebar interface is accessible to some testers running the latest TestFlight build. A subset of users on the stable App Store version has also started receiving the update.

Consistent with WhatsApp’s phased deployment pattern, full availability—across both beta and stable channels—may take additional time. No official timeline has been announced for universal release.