WhatsApp is preparing to simplify life for millions of users worldwide. The popular messaging service is developing a new functionality to help find your draft messages as simply as possible. The new feature is currently in development, which means it will appear in some future release for everyone.
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The Current Problem
At present, it can be very irritating to locate your draft messages. If you have a lot of active chats, it will necessitate scrolling through your whole chat list to find the chat that contains the unsent messages. It becomes even more awkward when you’re handling dozens of conversations throughout the day.
Many users put themselves in situations where they:
- Begin typing a message, only to be interrupted
- Start responding but decide to think more about it
- Type something, but change it to another chat
- Decide to not finish the message and then forget about it
Once you try to return to all of your drafts, you have to scroll and search all over again, which is an unproductive use of your time.
The New Draft Messages Filter
WhatsApp is offering a solution that is simple and brilliant: it is implementing a “Drafts” filter that will automatically show you all your conversations that contain an incomplete or unfinished message, rather than you having to endlessly scroll through your chats.
How It Will Work
The new feature works in a very straightforward way:
- There will be a “Draft” filter at the top of your chat list
- Click this filter and see only chats that have draft messages
- All unfinished conversations will be easily displayed in one list
- You can jump to any chat and finish your message
Here are some of the key benefits:
- Saves time: No more scrolling through hundreds of chats
- You stay organized: You will never forget your unfinished conversation again
- Don’t lose important messages: Important unfinished messages will never accidentally get lost in your chat list.
- Less stress: Less stress that you are managing 10 conversations at the same time.
Perfect for Busy Users
This feature will be especially helpful for people who:
- Handle business communications via WhatsApp
- Take part in family group chats and individual discussions
- Utilize WhatsApp for work coordination
- Chat with many friends and colleagues on a daily basis
- Frequent interruptions while typing messages
Easy to Use and Customize
Preset and Automatic
The most remarkable aspect of this new feature is that itโs entirely automatic. You wonโt have to get into the settings or set anything up. When you have messages waiting to be sent, the โDraftsโ filter will simply be there for you.
Flexible Settings
WhatsApp also understands that not everyone will want to use this feature full time. Therefore, theyโve made it flexible:
- You can remove the drafts filter if you don’t feel it will be useful at the time
- You can add the filter back whenever you’d like
- You’ll have total control over when and how you would like it to be used.
When Will It Be Available?
Currently, this feature is being tested in the WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.25.18.17.
The beta testing process allows WhatsApp to ensure everything will work perfectly before releasing a feature out to the wider audience.
There is no timeline for the official launch of this feature from what we can see, but typically WhatsApp does launch features a few months after beta testing starts.
How to Get Early Access
If you want to be one of the first to try new WhatsApp features before they are officially released then you can join the WhatsApp Beta program.
- Open the Google Play Store app on your android device
- Search for WhatsApp
- Scroll down and tap on โJoin the betaโ
- Wait for the beta version to arrive and then update WhatsApp
Keep in mind that since these are beta versions all features may not be operational, there could be bugs or issues since they are being tested.
What This Means for WhatsApp Users
The draft messages functionality in WhatsApp’s beta is a strong signal that the company is listening to what users want, and actually acting on solving real issues. The company is keenly aware that modern communication involves additional management of conversation and they are building features to accomplish this task.
Part of Bigger Improvements
The draft messages filter is part of WhatsApp’s effort to continue improving chat organization going forward. The platform has implemented several features to help people better organize their conversations:
- Chat filters to sort different types of conversations
- Enhanced search experiences
- Better notification controls
- Expanded group chat features
Read More: How to Start a WhatsApp Voice Chat in Group
Final Thoughts
Draft message filters in WhatsApp are a simple but valuable feature that will save lots of time and frustration for millions of users. Drafts contain all your unfinished messages in one location. This resolves a common and frequently vexing situation for so many of us on a daily basis.
While we wait for the official rollout of the feature, it’s really exciting to see WhatsApp continue to innovate and enhance the user experience. The drafter feature only reaffirms a common theme of sometimes the best solutions are the simplest solutions – just giving users an easy way to find what they are looking for.
Do keep an eye out for this feature when WhatsApp releases its next update. When it releases draft message management will be easier and more effective to manage.
