Overview
- WABetaInfo uncovered code for an 'In‑app browser' in a TestFlight iPhone beta (build 26.41.10.72), a finding reported Wednesday that indicates the feature is in development but not yet enabled for testers.
- When turned on, links would open inside the chat screen and the browsing session would run separately from the conversation so users can surf without changing the chat view.
- WhatsApp plans a new Settings > Chats toggle to enable or disable the in‑app browser and a browser settings screen that would let users clear cookies, cache, and other stored browsing data.
- The code suggests the browser would remove prior technical limits that confined in‑app openings to certain business links, though WhatsApp has not announced a release date and the feature could change or never ship.
- If rolled out broadly the change could keep users inside WhatsApp more often and shift control of web content and tracking from system browsers to the app, which has privacy and engagement implications given WhatsApp’s large global user base.