- WhatsApp introduces Liquid Glass, a visual redesign with transparencies and a sense of depth.
- The change is coming first to iPhones with iOS 26 and recent versions of the app, also to WhatsApp Business.
- It doesn't add any new features: it focuses on a floating bottom bar, translucent menus, an adaptive keyboard, and smoother animations.
- The rollout is gradual and cannot be activated manually; there are tricks to find out if it is already available on your mobile.
WhatsApp has begun to update its appearance with Liquid glassA new design with transparencies and a crystal effect This significantly changes the interface without affecting the core functionality. It's not a separate application or an external mod, but an official facelift that Meta is gradually rolling out to users.
This visual update aims to make the app look more integrated with the mobile operating system, especially with iOS 26Apple had already opted for blurred backgrounds, layers, and smoother animations. The result is a sense of depth and lightness on screen that many iPhone users in Spain and Europe are beginning to notice, while others still prefer the classic design.
What exactly is WhatsApp Liquid Glass?
Liquid Glass is, in essence, A redesign of the WhatsApp interface based on translucent surfaces and frosted glass effectsThe app abandons some of the completely opaque blocks and opts for semi-transparent layers that reveal the background content, both in light and dark modes.
One of the most obvious changes is in the bottom navigation barThis is where you'll find tabs like chats, news, calls, and settings. Previously, it appeared as a fixed, solid block; now, this area has a floating, semi-transparent look, with more rounded edges and the feeling of being superimposed on the messages.
They have also been retouched buttons and context menusThey have a glass-like finish, with very subtle reflections and varying levels of opacity depending on the layer. In practical terms, the elements remain in the same place and function as before, but their appearance is lighter and more consistent with the rest of the interface.
The keyboard integrated into the app adds to this aesthetic. Its function doesn't change, but its appearance does.It adopts a translucent background that adapts to the chat and system colors, maintaining the same visual style in both light and dark themes. The overall effect conveys a more seamless feel than the previous, flatter, and more segmented design.
Another aspect that stands out is the new sense of depthThe different components appear to be situated on separate planes: the bottom bar, the menus, the chat backgrounds… As you scroll through the conversations, the layers react with smoother animations, giving the impression that the app “floats” above the content.
What changes in the WhatsApp interface with Liquid Glass
With Liquid Glass, WhatsApp introduces one of the biggest visual changes in its recent historyBut always within the same basic structure that users are accustomed to. There's no need to relearn how to use the app: the form is refined, not the function.
These are some of the elements that transform the most:
- Floating bottom bar: The strip where the main tabs are grouped now seems to detach from the background, with a semi-transparent effect that slightly reveals what's happening behind it when scrolling.
- Buttons and menus with a crystal effect: The action buttons and pop-up menus adopt a frosted glass finish, with smooth edges and light reflections that add volume.
- Dynamic transparencies: When swiping through the chat list or within a conversation, you can see how the content blurs under the bars and headers, reinforcing the feeling of layers.
- Adaptive keyboard: When the keyboard opens within WhatsApp, the background is no longer an opaque block; it plays with transparency and adapts tones depending on the chat and the system theme.
- New animations: Switching between tabs and between conversations is smoother, with movements reminiscent of the displacement of a liquid.
Although the goal is modernize the application and bring it closer to the current style of iOS 26Not everyone reacts to the change in the same way. Some users appreciate the more vibrant and three-dimensional look, while others point out that, against certain backgrounds or in certain lighting conditions, so much transparency can make reading a bit more difficult.
This type of debate is not new: This already happened with transparency in recent versions of iOSSome users ended up disabling visual effects to prioritize readability and simplicity. In the case of WhatsApp, there isn't currently a specific switch within the app itself to disable Liquid Glass; it depends on how the system manages graphic effects.
Where it's available: iPhone, Spain, and the gradual rollout
The arrival of Liquid Glass is not happening simultaneously for everyone. WhatsApp is rolling out the redesign gradually, in batches of users and devices.as they usually do with their major changes. This allows them to test performance, detect bugs, and fine-tune details before rolling it out to everyone.
In this first phase, the focus is on iPhones with iOS 26 and recent versions of the appVarious leaks and expert reports indicate that WhatsApp version 26.14.76 for iOS is one of those that includes the new design, although installing it does not guarantee seeing it immediately, since activation is done from the company's servers.
This deployment affects both “Normal” WhatsApp like WhatsApp Businessso that companies and professionals using the business-oriented version can also maintain a consistent image with the rest of the system and with individual users.
In Spain and other European countries, some iPhone users have already received the floating bottom bar and the new translucent menusWhile some users still have the old interface despite having the updated app, there's no official way to "force" the change other than keeping the app updated from the App Store and waiting for the account to be included in the activation wave.
As for Android, for the time being There is no fully deployed stable version of Liquid GlassInterest among users of Google's system is high, but it will be Meta who decides to what extent it adapts this same visual language to Android mobiles, where the integration with the system is different and there is much more variety of customization layers.
How to know if you already have WhatsApp Liquid Glass on your mobile
In the absence of a specific button in settings, the best way to check if Liquid Glass is active is pay attention to some very specific visual details of the interfaceThere's no need to check hidden menus: just look at how the app appears.
These are the clearest signs:
- Look at the bottom bar: Open WhatsApp and look at the tab menu at the bottom. If the bar is still a solid, opaque block, you probably don't have Liquid Glass. If, however, it appears semi-transparent, with rounded edges and a slight floating effect, the new interface is already active.
- Try the keyboard in a chat: Enter any conversation and open the keyboard. If the keyboard background is completely solid and unrelated to the chat background, you're still using the old design. If you notice a translucent effect, with tones that blend with the background, you're using the new style.
- Watch the animations: Swipe between tabs or go back from a chat. With Liquid Glass, transitions are usually smooth. softer and smoother, accompanying the movement of the bottom bar and the menus.
- Check your version: On your iPhone, you can go to Settings > Help > App Info and see the version number you have installed. If it's 26.14.76 or higher, your phone is compatible, although activation may not have occurred yet.
Yes, after updating from the App Store, You don't see any visual changeIt's very likely that your account isn't yet included in the rollout phase. In that case, there's not much you can do: just wait for WhatsApp to expand the reach of the redesign in the coming weeks.
Safety, performance, and potential side effects
With any striking change, the same question always arises: Does Liquid Glass affect WhatsApp's security or privacy? In this case, the answer is clear: no. The redesign is limited to the visual aspect and does not introduce any changes to end-to-end encryption or data handling policies.
Conversations, calls, files, and all other content remain protected. under the same security standards than before. Liquid Glass doesn't add new messaging features or modify app permissions; it simply alters how existing elements are displayed on the screen.
What can be noticed, in some devices, is some minor visual flaw or inconsistency During the deployment and adjustment phase, since the design involves transparencies, layers, and real-time animations, occasional errors, unusual overlaps, or slight differences between sections not yet fully adapted may occur.
Some users have also pointed out that Transparencies can be less comfortable against certain backgrounds or in certain lighting conditions.Especially if you're using very elaborate wallpapers. In those cases, changing the chat background to a more neutral one can help make it easier to read.
In terms of performance, current mid-range and high-end phones shouldn't have any problems handling these effects. iPhones compatible with iOS 26 have enough graphics power to manage them. real-time layers and blurring without any noticeable slowdowns in everyday use.
Another step in the visual evolution of WhatsApp
With Liquid Glass, WhatsApp makes a significant change to its appearance, but keeps intact the core of the service used daily by millions of people in Spain and the rest of Europe. The tools remain the same; what changes is the way they are presented on screen.seeking a more modern look aligned with the graphic trends of mobile operating systems.
The messaging app thus joins a widespread trend in the digital ecosystem: More dynamic interfaces, with depth, transparencies, and smooth animationswhich aim to make the experience more enjoyable without complicating navigation. The balance between aesthetics and functionality will, as always, determine how well this redesign is received by users.
While the rollout continues and expands to more accounts and regions, simply pay attention to the bottom bar, the keyboard, and the motion effects to check if Liquid Glass has arrived on your phone. Those who don't yet have it will continue using the classic version of the app, but with the certainty that, sooner or later, WhatsApp will eventually adopt this new visual language on most compatible devices.
