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Meta Launches Real-Time Translation Feature on WhatsApp

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Meta Platforms announced the rollout of a real-time translation feature on WhatsApp, designed to make cross-language conversations easier for its more than 3 billion users worldwide.

The new tool will initially support six languages on Android and 19 on iPhones, with additional languages planned for future updates.

According to Meta, translations happen directly on the user’s device to maintain privacy, ensuring that WhatsApp itself cannot view the content of messages.

To use the feature, users can simply long-press a message and tap “Translate” to view it in another language. The function will work across personal chats, group conversations, and channel updates.

Android users will also have the option to enable automatic translation for entire chat threads, allowing all future messages to be translated by default.

WhatsApp for iOS Introduces Notification Reminders to Help Users Track Messages, Meetings, and Deadlines

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WhatsApp has rolled out a new update for iOS users, introducing a much-awaited feature that lets people schedule notification reminders for messages. This update is designed to help users keep track of important tasks, details, or deadlines without losing them in the flood of ongoing conversations. Instead of scrolling endlessly through chats, users can now set reminders linked directly to specific messages. For now, the feature is being tested with a limited group of iOS users, but a wider rollout is expected in the coming weeks.

The feature tracker WABetaInfo reports that the notification reminders have been spotted in WhatsApp for iOS version 25.25.74. Early adopters who installed the latest version were able to see the option appear in their apps, confirming its availability. Staff at Gadgets 360 also verified that the feature worked as soon as the update was installed, giving further weight to the expectation that Meta plans to expand access gradually.

With this update, users can select individual messages within a personal or group chat and set a reminder for them. The app then sends a scheduled alert, ensuring that essential information doesn’t disappear under a pile of new texts. For busy professionals, students, and anyone juggling multiple conversations at once, this feature could be especially helpful for staying organized.

Interestingly, WhatsApp recently tested a similar feature for Android users, hinting that cross-platform availability is likely. While the iOS rollout is still limited, the company’s move reflects a broader strategy to make WhatsApp a more productivity-oriented tool, beyond just instant messaging. If the rollout continues smoothly, the notification reminder function could soon become a standard feature across all devices, further blurring the line between a messaging app and a task manager.

Would you like me to also expand this into a user guide (step-by-step on how to set reminders within chats), so it reads more practical for WhatsApp users?

Russia Publishes List of Local Apps to Function During Internet Blackouts

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Russia’s Digital Development Ministry on Friday released a list of local apps and services that will remain operational during mobile internet shutdowns—blackouts authorities have often imposed to disrupt Ukrainian drone attacks.

The whitelist includes online government services, marketplaces, the Mir electronic payment system, and state-backed messenger MAX, but omits foreign rivals such as WhatsApp and YouTube, despite their massive popularity in Russia. According to Mediascope, WhatsApp had 97.6 million Russian users in July, making it the country’s most widely used app.

The ministry said a “special technical solution” would keep domestic apps running during shutdowns, claiming the move would minimize disruption for citizens while ensuring “security.” While Ukraine was not explicitly mentioned, governors in Russian border regions have repeatedly said temporary outages are needed to block drones from using mobile networks for navigation.

The decision also fits Moscow’s broader push since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine to expand control over its digital ecosystem and promote homegrown alternatives to foreign tech platforms. VK Group, the state-controlled tech company, has played a central role: its MAX messenger, now pre-installed on all phones sold in Russia, reported 30 million users this week, while its VK Messenger ranks third nationwide with 16.7 million users.

Meanwhile, Telegram, created by Russian-born Pavel Durov and used by 90.9 million Russians, was also excluded from the official list. Analysts see the move as a further attempt by the Kremlin to steer users toward domestically controlled services while sidelining foreign platforms that resist state oversight.