Following wider Liquid Glass deployment on iPhone, WhatsApp is now testing the same design language in its iPad app. According to the information shared by WABetaInfo, a limited group of users using WhatsApp beta on iPadOS gained access to the renewed interface. The new look brings a more modern structure to the iPad screen, with a floating Chats sidebar, glass-effect tabs, buttons and context menus. Meta has yet to announce an official date for wider distribution.
WhatsApp’s Liquid Glass transition actually started on the iPhone side in October. In the iOS version, the company first focused on revamping the chat interface, chat bar, and navigation bar. More users started seeing this design last month, and now we’re seeing the same visual line carry over to the iPad. This step shows that Meta is not neglecting the big screen experience, especially after the official release of the iPad app in 2025.
Apple featured the Liquid Glass design across the platform with iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26. The company builds this language on translucent surfaces, glass-like layers that react to light and content, and more fluid control elements. WhatsApp follows this line and aims for a more consistent Apple ecosystem experience across iPhone, iPad and Mac applications. In fact, this change isn’t just a visual makeover, it also directly impacts how the app feels on big screens.
On the Mac side, WhatsApp started testing a separate version compatible with Liquid Glass and macOS 26 design earlier this month. This version includes a new sidebar with text labels next to the icons, a renewed chat bar, an updated attachment menu and a special section for locked chats. 9to5Mac reports that Apple will move away from text labels on the macOS 27 Golden Gate side, but in WhatsApp’s current Mac test, these labels make navigation more descriptive.
Glass effect tabs stand out in the iPad interface
You can understand the new design on the iPad most quickly from the tab bar at the bottom of the screen. WhatsApp now displays this section as a floating, translucent element above the interface, rather than placing it flat on the edge of the screen. The navigation bar at the top of the chat list also responds to scrolling and becomes more transparent as the user moves down the list. The buttons use the frosted glass look we saw in the iPhone version and respond to touch with smoother animations.
The new iPad look is limited to a narrow beta group for now. Therefore, not everyone using TestFlight may see the same interface immediately. WhatsApp has gradually rolled out the Liquid Glass design to the iPhone in the past, so it seems logical to expect a similar schedule on the iPad side. The most tangible difference for the user will be a lighter, more layered and more compatible experience with iPadOS 26, especially between the chat list, tabs and menus on the wide screen.