WhatsApp Rolls Out @all Group Chat Feature, Poll Upgrades

The @all function is designed for urgent messages such as schedule changes or last-minute cancellations. In groups with more than 32 members, only admins can trigger it. Users can also disable @all alerts separately in notification settings, independent of muting the chat itself. The 32-person threshold matches the limit WhatsApp applies to group calls.

Beyond @all, the update introduces improvements to polls. Poll creators can now set an end time that automatically locks voting, hide voter names, and edit a poll question within 15 minutes of posting. The edit window is the same grace period given to regular messages. Previously, poll votes were visible to all members by design.

WhatsApp is also formalizing splinter chats. Users can now create a new group from an existing one in a single tap, pulling selected members into a smaller conversation without manually adding each one. The feature is intended for side conversations or surprise planning.

Separately, WhatsApp has announced that usernames will launch later this year, allowing people to connect without sharing phone numbers. Reservations began in June, with eligible users able to claim a name or transfer an existing Facebook or Instagram handle in Settings. Users can add a four-digit key before allowing contact. WhatsApp said names of celebrities, public figures, and government bodies will be reserved for their legitimate owners. Wired reported that the username rollout is part of a broader privacy push.

The group chat updates follow earlier releases this year, including group message history, member tags, and event reminders. WhatsApp, which has more than 3 billion users, has supported groups of up to 1,024 members since 2022.