WhatsApp has begun rolling out a new shortcut in its iPhone app that makes searching chats and channels easier. With the search button added to the top section of the chat screen, users will be able to find old messages and channel updates using keywords without leaving the screen.
The feature, which was seen in the iOS beta version in August, is being made available to a wider audience with version 26.36.74 of WhatsApp Messenger on the App Store. The search button, which can be used in individual and group chats as well as channels, may not appear immediately for all iPhone users because it is being rolled out gradually.
Why it matters
This change moves access to past content in WhatsApp to a shared search flow across different chat types. Offering the same shortcut to those who use individual and group conversations and those who follow channels simplifies the path to take when searching for content. Linking the feature to a specific app version requires users to also consider the version they are using when assessing their access status. However, due to the gradual rollout, the search button is not expected to appear on every account at the same time even if the version is up to date. This leaves open the question not of the functionality of the new feature, but of when it will become available on users’ own accounts.
Background
WhatsApp is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 11 articles mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the most recent is dated September 18, 2026.