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WhatsApp is gearing up for a major improvement to its messaging experience on Android. Following the success of its selective message copying tool on iOS, the popular messaging app is now working on bringing this smart feature to Android as part of the 2.25.18.3 beta update. Although it’s still under development and not yet available to users, this enhancement promises to give Android users the same control and convenience that iOS users are already enjoying. Here’s everything you need to know about this upcoming feature, what it means for your chats, and how it fits into WhatsApp’s broader design strategy.
WhatsApp’s Android beta update 2.25.18.3, released through the Google Play Beta Program, hints at an exciting new feature: partial message selection. This tool, already rolled out to iOS devices in update 25.16.81, allows users to tap and hold on a message, then drag to highlight only the specific words or phrases they want to copy—without having to grab the entire message.
On iOS, this feature has already streamlined message management, allowing users to extract and share just the needed information quickly. Now, WhatsApp aims to deliver the same sleek experience to Android. Although this feature isn’t active yet in the latest beta version, clues in the code and screenshots suggest it’s actively being tested.
The new selection tool will apply across all chats—private, group, and channel conversations—giving users more control in every context. No more pasting large chunks of unnecessary text or trimming down copied content manually. Whether you’re saving a quote, sharing a detail, or responding with precision, this new functionality will make your messaging experience cleaner and more efficient.
But the release hinges on one more piece: a redesigned message interface, first seen in an earlier beta (2.23.11.4). The partial selection feature is designed to work with this updated context menu, which brings a sleeker, more modern UI similar to iOS. Until that new interface rolls out on Android, the feature can’t go live.
So, while Android users wait for this functionality to drop, it’s clear WhatsApp is focused on unifying the experience across platforms. Once this new message menu is live, the copy-select tool will follow closely behind, providing a seamless upgrade to how users handle messages.
What Undercode Say:
This upcoming feature reflects a deeper evolution in WhatsApp’s user interface philosophy—granularity and control. In a digital age where information flows fast and precision is key, giving users the ability to copy only what matters is more than a convenience—it’s a productivity boost.
The idea behind partial message selection may seem simple, but the implications are wide-reaching. For one, it acknowledges how users actually interact with messages: people don’t always need everything. Sometimes they just want an address, a quote, a name, or a key figure from a longer message. With this update, that action becomes faster and more intuitive.
Technically speaking, this feature also showcases
It also suggests that WhatsApp is laying the groundwork for even more complex message interaction tools. Think selective forwarding, context-aware replies, or even in-line editing of only part of a message. The underlying mechanics required for partial selection could easily be leveraged for these future tools.
Another angle to consider is privacy and message control. With the rise of screenshots and message forwarding, users are more conscious of what they share. By enabling people to isolate and share only relevant parts, WhatsApp helps reduce miscommunication and unnecessary data exposure.
From a user experience perspective, this move fits into a broader industry trend seen across major messaging platforms—Facebook Messenger, Telegram, iMessage—all of which are refining how users interact with text. WhatsApp, by adding this to its Android version, stays competitive while offering a practical upgrade that users didn’t even know they needed.
The delay in Android rollout due to the pending new message menu might frustrate some, but it also confirms that WhatsApp is not rushing half-baked features. The feature’s dependence on a modernized UI ensures that when it does arrive, it will feel seamless and polished.
In summary, WhatsApp is not just copying messages—it’s copying Apple’s finesse and upgrading the Android experience in the process. And if history is any guide, once the beta testers get their hands on this feature, we can expect a quick and positive rollout to stable builds.
Fact Checker Results ✅
The partial message selection feature is confirmed as under development for Android.
It’s already live for iOS and functions exactly as described.
Availability for Android depends on the release of the redesigned message interface. 🛠️📱✨
Prediction 🔮
Expect the redesigned message context menu to roll out in a major Android update within the next 4 to 6 weeks. Following that, the partial selection feature will likely move from beta to public release by late Q3 2025. As WhatsApp accelerates feature parity between platforms, Android users should brace for a wave of UI improvements designed to mirror the iOS experience.
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