WhatsApp users finally got broader access to the new Liquid Glass interface in the iOS app last month. Now it seems Meta is shifting its focus towards the iPad and Mac apps.
A new report from WABetaInfo indicates the app’s team is currently developing the Liquid Glass design for the macOS app. It adds that the same app code is used across the iOS, iPadOS and macOS versions, so the work mainly consists of ensuring that the material is properly implemented.
Along with the shift to Liquid Glass, WABetaInfo reports that Meta is planning more design changes to modernize the Mac app and make it more consistent with the design on iPhone.
The new app is set to feature a redesigned sidebar with more options and text labels next to the icons, as seen in a purported new screenshot released with the report. This is a change from the existing sidebar with only icons. Though the chat list is set to remain the same, Liquid Glass will also appear in the new chat bar and attachment menu.
The redesigned app will reportedly also feature a dedicated section on the sidebar for locked chats. This will close what WABetaInfo calls a ‘privacy gap’ between the iPhone and Mac versions. The iPhone version currently isolates all locked chats to a similar section that requires Face ID to access.
Meta has not officially confirmed the plans. Though WABetaInfo claims the feature is in development, it is not currently available for beta testing. It is not clear when the new design is set to roll out.
