Where to look for WhatsApp settings on Android: hidden menus and new features

WhatsApp remains the most popular instant messenger in the world, but its interface on Android is regularly updated, causing users to get lost in finding the right options. In 2026, the developers added several new sections, and moved the old ones to non-obvious places. This article will help you understand where are all the WhatsApp settings on Android from basic account settings to hidden functions for advanced users.

We analyzed the latest versions of the application (including beta tests) and identified key changes in the menu structure. We will pay special attention to those options that users most often look for: notification management, privacy settings, backup and hidden functions like WhatsApp Web or Business accounts. If you recently updated the application and cannot find the usual items, you have come to the right place.

Main settings menu: how to open and what is there

The main path to all settings starts from the main chat screen. In the latest versions of WhatsApp (2026), developers have simplified access to the menu, but made it less noticeable. Now the settings icon looks like three vertical dots in the upper right corner (on some devices - three horizontal lines). Click on it to open the drop-down menu.

In this menu you will see 5 key items:

• 🔍 New chat — creating individual or group dialogues
• 📱 Linked devices — management WhatsApp Web and multi-accounts
• ★ Favorites — quick access to saved messages
• ⚙️ Settings —the main settings menu (this is what we need!)
• ❓ Help —access to FAQ and support

Click on ⚙️ Settingsto go to the main settings menu. Here you will see 8 sections, which we will discuss in detail below. Please note that on some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy with shell One UI), the appearance of the menu may differ slightly, but the structure remains the same.

Account settings: from name to two-level authentication

Section Account is the most important for security and personalization. Here you can change usernamephone number, configure two-step verification and manage linked devices. To get there, go to:

⚙️ Settings → Account

Inside the section you will find 6 sub-items:

Menu item	What can be configured	Important nuances
Privacy	Who sees your status, profile photo, online information	You can hide the last visit time for everyone except a select few
Security	Two-step verification, fingerprint/face blocking, encryption	Without two-step verification, the account is vulnerable to hacking
Changing a number	Transferring an account to a new number without losing data	Requires confirmation via SMS to both numbers
Deleting an account	Completely deleting a profile from the system	It will be impossible to restore the data
Access requests	Managing requests to be added to groups	You can block strangers from adding to groups

In 2026, WhatsApp added the ability to link an account to an email instead of a phone number (so far only for business accounts in some regions). If you have such an item, this is a test function, and its operation may be unstable.

⚠️ Attention: When you change your phone number via Account → Change number all your chats, media files and settings are automatically transferred to the new number. However backup copy it is still recommended to do this before this procedure - in case of a failure.

Managing notifications: how to turn off sounds and vibration

Section Notifications is the second most popular after account settings. Here you can flexibly configure how WhatsApp will notify you about new messages, calls and statuses. Path:

⚙️ Settings → Notifications

In the latest versions of the messenger, additional options have appeared:

• 🔔 Notification tones —separate sounds for messages, calls and replies in groups
• 📳 Vibration —setting up vibration patterns (including custom ones)
• 💡 Indicator light — screen flashing for new messages (does not work on all devices)
• 👥 Exceptions for groups —separate notification settings for specific chats
• 📵 Quiet mode —temporarily disable all alerts

A particularly useful function "Priority notifications" (appeared in 2026). It allows you to highlight messages from specific contacts even when the phone is in silent mode. For example, you can set messages from loved ones to always have sound and vibration, but not others.

Mute sound for group chats|Set up a unique vibration for important contacts|Turn on the indicator light for night notifications|Check for exceptions in "Silent Mode"-->

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 14+ WhatsApp may ignore system notification settings if the option "Show notifications"is not enabled in the application menu. Check this in Android Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Notifications.

Storage and data: how to free up space on your phone

WhatsApp can take up gigabytes of memory due to saved media files, voice messages and backups. Section Storage and data helps manage this chaos. Path:

⚙️ Settings → Storage and data

There are 4 key tools:

1. Storage management —shows which chats take up the most space. You can sort by size and delete unnecessary files.
2. Auto-downloading media — setting which files (photos, videos, documents) are downloaded automatically via mobile traffic or Wi-Fi.
3. Network settings —limiting the use of mobile data for calls.
4. Backup —setting up automatic saving of chats in Google Drive.

The most useful function here is "Cleaning storage". It analyzes all chats and suggests removing duplicate photos, old memes or large videos. For example, if you are in a group where 100 pictures are sent daily, this option will help save several gigabytes.

Pay attention to the setting Auto-downloading media. By default, WhatsApp downloads all photos and videos when connected to Wi-Fi, which quickly fills up the memory. We recommend disabling auto-downloading for groups and enabling it only for individual chats.

Hidden settings: WhatsApp Web, business accounts and experimental features

Not all WhatsApp options are on the surface. Some of them are hidden deep in the menu or appear only under certain conditions. Here's what to look for:

1. WhatsApp Web and associated devices

Path:

⚙️ Settings → Associated devices

Here you can:

• 🖥️ Connect WhatsApp Web or desktop application via QR code
• 📱 Add up to 4 additional devices (phones/tablets) to one account
• 🔄 See all active sessions and remotely disable suspicious ones

2. Business tools (available only in WhatsApp Business)

Path:

⚙️ Settings → Business tools

Includes:

• 🏷️ Product catalog - for demonstrating products directly in chat
• ⏰ Quick answers - templates for frequently asked questions
• 📊 Chat statistics - analysis of customer activity

3. Experimental features (not available for everyone)

WhatsApp is testing new options through the system beta versions. To access them:

1. Become a beta tester in Google Play
2. Update the application to the latest version
3. Check the section ⚙️ Settings → Advanced for new items

How to enable the hidden Do Not Disturb mode for individual chats?

In the latest versions of WhatsApp, it is now possible to turn off notifications for specific conversations for an unlimited period.

1. Open the desired chat

2. Click on the contact/group name at the top

3. → "Always"

This will turn off all notifications, but messages will arrive in the background.

Chat settings: from background images to archiving

Section Chats allows you to customize the appearance of dialogues and manage their organization. Path:

⚙️ Settings → Chats

There are several useful options here:

• 🎨 Wallpaper chat — setting a background image for individual dialogs
• 📁 Chat archive — hiding dialogs without deleting
• 🔍 Search in chats —filters for quickly finding messages
• 📌 Pinned chats — fixing important dialogues at the top of the list
• 🗑️ Clearing history —mass deletion of messages

The "Chat Archiving"function is especially useful. Archived conversations are hidden from the main list, but remain accessible through search or section Archive (scroll down the chat screen). In 2026, it became possible to archive chats with notifications —that is, they will remain in the archive, but you will receive notifications about new messages.

Another hidden opportunity - change the font in chats. To do this:

1. Open any chat
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner
3. Select More → Chat settings → Font size

You can choose one of 5 text size options.

Call settings: from call quality to video effects

WhatsApp is actively developing the functionality of voice and video calls, adding new options almost every quarter. All settings are collected in the section:

⚙️ Settings → Calls

What can be configured here:

Option	What it does	Recommendations
Video quality	Choice of resolution (360p, 480p, 720p)	720p is justified only with stable Wi-Fi
Use data	Limiting traffic for calls	Enable if you have a limited tariff
Video effects	Filters and background blur	Background blur is good for privacy
Ring tone	Separate tone for incoming calls	Choose something other than message notifications

In 2026, a new feature appeared - "Video Preview". Now, before a call, you can see how the interlocutor sees you, and, if necessary, enable background blur or filters. This is especially useful for video conferencing.

⚠️ Attention: The setting "Data usage" limit call quality when connected via a mobile network, but does not affect Wi-Fi. If you have an unlimited tariff, it is better to disable this restriction for better communication quality.

Additional settings and debugging

Section Advanced (sometimes called System settings) contains technical options that will be useful to experienced users. Path:

⚙️ Settings → Advanced

Here you can find:

• 📊 Data usage —detailed statistics traffic
• 🔄 Reinstall WhatsApp — reset without deleting account
• 📋 Error log —sending reports to developers
• 🔧 Developer settings (hidden, enabled by repeatedly clicking on the application version)

The most useful option here is "Reinstall WhatsApp". It allows you to reset all application settings to factory settings without deleting your account or losing chats. This helps if the messenger starts to glitch after an update. The procedure takes less than a minute and does not require a backup.

For developers or simply curious users there is a hidden menu developer settings. To enable it:

1. Go to ⚙️ Settings → Advanced
2. Find item "Whatsapp version" (usually at the bottom screen)
3. Click on it 7 times in a row
4. The message "You have become a developer!" will appear.

In this menu you can enable USB debugging, logging and other technical options.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

How to return old WhatsApp settings after updating?

Unfortunately, you cannot roll back to the previous version of the interface - WhatsApp does not provide such an option. However, you can:

1. Get used to the new arrangement of items (most of the options have simply moved)
2. Use the search in settings (magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the settings menu)
3. Disable automatic WhatsApp updates in Google Playto avoid future changes

If we are talking about functionality, and not about the location of items (for example, a favorite function has disappeared), check whether it has moved to another section or has become part of a paid subscription (as happened with some business tools in 2026).

Why is there not some settings from this article in my WhatsApp?

There are several possible reasons:

• 📱 Outdated version of the application - update WhatsApp in Google Play
• 🌍 Regional restrictions - some functions (for example, payments or business tools) are not available in all countries
• 📲 Modified version —if you use WhatsApp Plus or GBWhatsApp, the interface may be very different
• 🔍 A/B testing —WhatsApp often tests new features on a limited audience

To get all the latest features, use the official version from Google Play and update the application regularly.

How to transfer WhatsApp settings to a new phone?

Whatsapp settings not transferred automatically when changing device - only chats and media files (if there is a backup copy). To restore the usual configuration:

1. Install WhatsApp on the new phone and log into your account
2. Restore chats from Google Drive (if backup was enabled)
3. Manually configure:
   • Notifications (⚙️ Settings → Notifications)
   • Privacy (⚙️ Settings → Account → Privacy)
   • Auto-download media (⚙️ Settings → Storage and data)

List of pinned chats and archive not saved in a backup copy - you will have to configure them again.

Is it possible to hide the fact that messages have been read in WhatsApp?

Yes, but with reservations. WhatsApp has a function to disable blue checkmarks (read marks), but it does not work perfectly:

1. Go to ⚙️ Settings → Account → Privacy
2. Uncheck the item "Marks about reading"

After this:

• ✅ You will not see blue checkmarks for the messages you sent
• ✅ Your interlocutors will not see that you have read their messages
• ⚠️ You as before will see blue checkmarks in group chats
• ⚠️ If you reply to a message, the interlocutor will understand that you have read it

For complete privacy, you can use the mode "Airplane mode":

1. Open WhatsApp in offline mode
2. Read messages
3. Close the application and only then connect to the Internet

In this case, read marks will not be sent.

How to enable dark theme in WhatsApp?

Dark theme in WhatsApp is enabled in two ways:

Method 1: through the app settings

1. Open ⚙️ Settings → Chats → Theme
2. Select "Dark"

Method 2: Through the Android system settings

1. Enable dark theme in the phone settings (Android Settings → Display → Dark theme)
2. WhatsApp will automatically adjust to the system settings

Some versions of WhatsApp Business may not have a dark theme - this depends on the region and version of the application.