Surprise WhatsApp upgrade is coming to your phone this week and it’s about time

WhatsApp has confirmed it’s bringing back a much-loved upgrade.

WhatsApp is rolling out a major update this week, bringing back a familiar feature with a fresh twist. It’s called About, and longtime users may remember an earlier version of it which was available right near the beginning of the chat app’s life.

According to WhatsApp, the revival of About is aimed at giving people a quick, simple way to share what’s going on in their lives.

“Today we’re reintroducing and improving About, making it more visible, timely, and easier to use,” the Meta-owned company said.

So what exactly does the new About do and when will it arrive on your phone?

The feature is designed for those moments when you want to add updates about your life. With a short phrase and an emoji, you can let others know why you can’t chat—or what you actually want to talk about.

Your About status sits right at the top of your chat window, making it easy for others to spot.

“About will now be easier to see at the top of 1-1 chats and on your profile,” WhatsApp explained.

“You can also reply directly to someone’s About by tapping on it in a chat. About will expire after one day, but you can choose for it to disappear sooner or stick around longer. Just head to Settings and tap ‘Set About’ to pick a timer.”

Don’t want everyone to know about your life? You also control who can view your About status. In the privacy settings, you can keep it visible only to your contacts—or open it up more broadly.

WhatsApp says the updated About is rolling out to all mobile users starting this week.