What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
WhatsApp is testing an Android beta feature that can surface people who are not yet in a group inside the chat’s @ mention picker. In the version reported in April 2026, choosing one of those contacts lets you invite them or add them to the group. It is a limited test, not a confirmed feature available to everyone.
How the tested @ picker flow works
WABetaInfo reported that, in the test, typing @ in a group chat could show contacts who were not already members alongside the usual picker options. Suggestions could include frequent contacts and people encountered in other groups; some might not be saved in the user’s address book. Selecting a suggestion prompted the user to invite that person or add them directly. This is a shortcut to the group-add process, not a way to mention a non-member in a message. WABetaInfo’s April 2026 report identified Android beta version 2.26.14.7 and described a gradual, limited rollout.
Is the feature available to everyone?
No general release is established. The April 2026 report described beta testing on Android and did not give a public launch date or say that the feature would reach every user. Meta’s August 2026 group-chat announcement covers a different feature—starting a new chat from an existing group—and does not confirm that the @ picker test has launched.
How this differs from other ways to add people
| Method | Where it starts | What happens | What the sources establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tested @ picker | The @ picker in an existing group chat | A suggested non-member can be invited or added directly. | WABetaInfo reported a limited Android beta test in April 2026; broad availability is not established. Source |
| New chat from an existing group | An existing group | Starts a separate group chat with people from that group in one tap, without adding people one by one. | Meta announced this in August 2026. It is not the same as adding someone to the original group. Source |
| Invite link or QR code | A link or QR code shared with the prospective participant | The person can use the invitation to join, subject to group access controls. | WhatsApp Help Center search results describe these invitation options. Meta said admins can decide who joins when an invite link is shared or a group is joinable in a Community. Availability can vary by account or platform. Help Center; Meta announcement |
What admins should know about joining and chat history
Adding a participant and deciding what they can catch up on are separate questions. WABetaInfo reported in February 2026 that WhatsApp was rolling out optional recent-history sharing when someone is added to a group: up to 100 messages from the previous 14 days, with admins able to disable sharing. That report describes a rollout, not a guarantee that the option is present in every group. WABetaInfo’s report
WhatsApp’s established invitation links and QR codes are separate from the experimental @ picker. Meta’s 2023 announcement says admins can control who joins when an invite link is shared or a group is joinable in a Community; consult the current in-app group controls for the options on your account. The Help Center search result gives a general maximum of 1,024 group members, but that capacity figure does not indicate anything about the beta test. WhatsApp Help Center
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other recent group features are not member-adding tools
Meta announced member tags and custom event reminders in January 2026. They help people organize group participation and events, but they do not add someone to a group. Meta’s announcement
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
