Overview
- The floating navigation bar was detected in WhatsApp beta build 2.26.38.10 and first reported by WABetaInfo on Sept. 28, 2026, but the feature is present in code only and is not enabled for beta testers.
- The bar is shown with rounded corners and a separated, 'floating' placement that sits apart from the bottom screen edge to make the main tabs more distinct.
- WhatsApp is testing the design in both light and dark themes with the floating effect more visible in light mode.
- The design borrows the general idea from WhatsApp’s recent iOS tab bar but follows Google’s Android guidelines, so the iOS translucent see-through finish is unlikely to appear on Android.
- This is the first significant rethink of the Android bottom bar since tabs moved to the bottom in 2023, and WhatsApp may tweak the look or run limited tests before any public rollout, so timing and final appearance remain unconfirmed.