WhatsApp was rumoured to bring the shareable links feature to invite new users to a group since last few months. The most widely-used messaging has now received the feature in its latest Android beta app, and it is now available to users running the beta.
The new invite feature for WhatsApp groups is available to Android users running version 2.16.281 and above. Notably, the latest beta build also brings several bug fixes. The new group link feature is also available to iOS users running version 2.16.10.
Once upgraded to the latest beta build of WhatsApp, group administrators will have the ability to add new members through shareable links. To access the new link feature, administrators will have to tap on the add participant option to get the "Invite to group via link" on top of the contacts. Once selected, the "Invite link" page will open with text reading, "Anyone with WhatsApp can follow this link to join this group. Only share it with people you trust." WhatsApp users will get a share link alongside other options for Send link via WhatsApp, copy link, share link, and revoke link. There's another option to get a print group QR code option where new members can just scan the QR code to join a group.
The group invite link was first reported to be in testing back in June alongside the mentions feature.
Earlier this month, WhatsApp finally enabled the mentions feature on its Android as well as iPhone app. The mention feature worked same as it does on Facebook and Twitter. Users will use "@" sign in a group chat and the app will automatically suggest names of the group members. Notably, the feature is currently limited to group chats only.
For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub.