WhatsApp is making it easier for iPhone users to find older messages without leaving a conversation or opening the chat information screen. The Meta-owned messaging platform has started rolling out a new in-chat search shortcut that gives users direct access to message search from within a conversation.
The feature was first spotted during testing in August and is now in a gradual public rollout. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp for iOS 26.36.74 is listed as a compatible version.
The new shortcut appears when users scroll upwards through a conversation to view older messages. In the current version, the button is placed at the top of the chat screen, just below the navigation bar.
The button is contextual rather than permanent. It disappears when users return to the bottom of the conversation. The placement is also different from the original beta design, where the button appeared at the bottom while users scrolled through older messages.
iPhone users previously had to open a conversation, tap the contact or group name, open the chat information screen, select Search, and then enter the search term.
The new shortcut removes the extra steps. When the button appears, users can tap it to activate WhatsApp’s existing search mode and enter a keyword, phrase, or other search term to find matching messages.
The update does not introduce a completely new search system. Instead, it makes the existing message-search function easier to access directly from the conversation.
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The feature works across individual chats, group chats, and WhatsApp Channels. In Channels, the shortcut appears in a similar position below the navigation bar, allowing users to search older content directly.
WhatsApp is rolling out the feature gradually, so it may not appear for everyone immediately. There is no separate setting to enable it. Users can update WhatsApp through the App Store, open a conversation, and scroll upwards to check for the shortcut.
Those who don't see it can keep using the existing method through the chat information screen until the feature reaches their account.