WhatsApp is constantly testing new features for the app and these come to beta testers first before they are rolled out to regular users. Beta testers, as the name suggests, are people who get to test the new features out before everyone else and the whole point behind this is to let WhatsApp discover if there are bugs or other UX (user experience issues) that they need to sort out before rolling it out to its billions of users across the world.
Does this interest you? If yes, here’s how you can sign up to become a beta tester for WhatsApp –
You can sign up two ways – with your smartphone or through your web browser on the PC. On either of the devices, you must use the same Google account that you use on your Android device.
If you are signing up using your Android smartphone, go to the Google Play Store. Pull up WhatsApp.
On the WhatsApp page, scroll down to bottom where you will spot the ‘Become a beta tester’ panel. Click on ‘I’m in’ and then confirm with ‘Join’.
If you are signing up on the PC, go to https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.whatsapp from any browser — Chrome, Opera, Firefox or others. Here you will see a dialog box with a button that says – ‘Become a beta tester’ – you just need to click on this.
Currently, though, the page says – “Thanks for your interest in becoming a tester for the WhatsApp Messenger app. However, at this time, WhatsApp Messenger app’s testing program has reached the maximum number of testers that can participate in it and isn’t accepting any more testers.” So maybe you’d like to check back in a few days.
Once you have signed up, when you open WhatsApp on your PC or smartphone you will see a line that mentions that you are a beta tester now. This will be followed by an update from WhatsApp in a few hours’ time. The incoming update is the beta version.
Also, please remember that the WhatsApp beta tester role in an opt-in one and you can leave any time you like.
To leave, you need to go to the Google Play Store on the PC or your smartphone or you can open the WhatsApp beta tester page. Make sure you are using the same Google ID that you use on your phone. Just tap on ‘Leave’ and then confirm it.
Once you have left, you need to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. Make sure you have taken a backup of your chats etc before you uninstall.