After testing it in beta for a while, WhatsApp has finally rolled out coloured text status to its Android and iPhone apps.
This feature was first introduced by Facebook late last year on its Android app first, allowing its users to write their status update with a colourful background, font, and emoji combination.
WhatsApp has confirmed that the coloured text feature is rolling out to all users on Android and iPhone.
However, not all users are seeing this feature go live even after updating to the latest update.
WABetaInfo reports that on iOS and Android, it has been remotely activated, and full-fledged rollout is awaited.
WhatsApp for iOS 2.17.50+: text statuses are remotely enabled now.
Wait the rollout.— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) August 21, 2017
How to use the WhatsApp coloured text status
I tried a hand on the feature yesterday and it is awesome. While some users may see the feature much later, others will see it pop up soon.
For iPhone users, the pen icon now shows up next to the camera icon in the new Status bar.
Clicking on the pen icon brings up the option to type a status, choose a font, emoji, and the background colour as well.
When you are done writing the status and making the necessary changes, you can then hit the green arrow key to send the text status, just like how you send media content.
The status will then be published on WhatsApp for all your contacts to see.
For Android users, the floating pen icon shows up at the bottom of the Status tab, above the camera icon.
WhatsApp for Windows Phone does not support this feature, and on the Web, you can only view these text statuses for now, and not create them.