Following its debut on Android last month, the beta version of WhatsApp for iPhone has started displaying a green dot next to the profile photo of active contacts. This visual indicator, already being tested by a small group of users, marks a step forward in instant messaging, allowing users to quickly see who is available before sending a message.
The green dot disappears as soon as the contact is no longer active
According to early reports, the new indicator appears as a small green circle in the corner of a contact's profile photo. When the user closes the app or switches to background, the dot vanishes immediately, ensuring the status reflects real-time activity. Meta has built in several privacy protections: users who have disabled the online status display in WhatsApp settings will automatically have the green dot disabled as well. Moreover, the indicator only activates when the app is actually open in the foreground, avoiding false positives.
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Currently the green dot is visible only in a specific location
At present, the indicator does not appear on the main chat list or inside an open conversation. To see it, the user must tap the top bar of a chat to open the contact details screen. According to sources close to Meta, this deliberately discreet placement is meant to let users gradually get used to the new feature. In the future, the company is working on a dedicated contacts screen that will list currently online or recently active users.
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As with any beta feature, the rollout is limited to a small number of testers. Those using the latest beta version of WhatsApp for iPhone may see the green dot, but it is not guaranteed. The final implementation will likely arrive in the coming months after feedback is collected. For a broader perspective on real-time communication, a related article discusses how VPN ad blockers affect live streaming events. For more on WhatsApp's privacy features, you can check the Wikipedia page on WhatsApp.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/06/whatsapp-iphone-app-getting-a-green-dot-to-show-whos-online
