WhatsApp has recently expanded the availability of its highly anticipated WhatsApp Channels feature to more countries. After an initial release in Singapore and Colombia, users from Egypt, Chile, Malaysia, Morocco, Ukraine, Kenya, and Peru can now create and follow WhatsApp Channels to share updates with their followers. This exciting update is available for WhatsApp on iOS, Android, and Desktop versions.
WhatsApp Channels: What You Need to Know
WhatsApp Channels allow users to create broadcast channels to share timely updates with their followers. If you’ve used Telegram before, WhatsApp Channels are quite similar to Telegram Channels. Initially launched in Singapore and Colombia, this feature was later extended to more users who installed the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.14.6 update. Now, WhatsApp is officially rolling out Channels to users in Egypt, Chile, Malaysia, Morocco, Ukraine, Kenya, and Peru.
Getting Started with WhatsApp Channels
If you reside in one of the newly supported countries and have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on your iOS, Android, or Desktop app, you can check if Channels are available for your account. Simply update the WhatsApp application and open it to see if the “Updates” tab appears. If it does, you can start creating and following WhatsApp Channels right away.
The status tab has been replaced by the updates tab which now houses both statuses and channel updates. https://t.co/hKO6t2kgNx pic.twitter.com/hl5JzYYL8a
— Tony Muchiri (@TonyMuchiri4) July 24, 2023
Gradual Rollout to More Countries
WhatsApp seems to be gradually expanding the availability of Channels to additional countries. While there is no definitive timeline, based on previous patterns, it’s likely that more countries will receive this feature in the coming months. Keep an eye on updates from WhatsApp to know when Channels will be available in your region.
How to Use WhatsApp Channels
- Update WhatsApp: Ensure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on your device.
- Access the “Updates” Tab: Open WhatsApp, and if the “Updates” tab is visible, you can start using WhatsApp Channels.
How to Find and Follow Channels
You can find available channels by accessing the Updates tab and tapping on the “+” icon , then select “Find channels.” Verified channels will have a green checkmark next to their name, ensuring their authenticity.
- Preview channel updates before you follow:
- To see what type of updates a channel posts, tap the channel name to preview recent updates.
- Learn more about a channel by checking out their channel info page. Tap on the channel name or tap More > Channel info.
- Quick follow: You can quickly follow a channel from the directory by tapping the “+” next to the channel name.
- Search for a channel: Tap Search to search all channels.
- External link: Channel admins can share a link outside of WhatsApp to help people to find their channel. Use the link to open a channel in WhatsApp and browse updates.
How to create a WhatsApp Channel
To create a WhatsApp Channel, follow the following steps.
1. For Android:
Take the following steps to create a WhatsApp channel on an Android device:
- Launch WhatsApp on your phone and tap on the Updates tab.
- Tap the + icon and then select New Channel.
- Tap on Get Started.
- Review and accept the terms of service and privacy policy to create your WhatsApp channel.
- Choose a name for your WhatsApp channel and create the channel. You will be able to change your channel name at any time in the future.
- Personalize your channel by adding an icon. You can select any desired photo from your device.
- Craft a channel description by summarizing your channel, its purpose, and the services it offers.
- Tap on Create channel to finish the process.
To share your channel with others, navigate to the Channel info page and copy the link associated with your channel.
2. For iPhone:
Creating a WhatsApp Channel on iPhone is similar, with one minor difference. Let’s take a look:
- Launch the Whatsapp app on your iPhone and tap on the Updates tab located at the bottom-right of the screen.
- Tap the + icon and select Create Channel.
- Tap on Get Started and accept the terms of Service and Privacy policy to proceed.
- Add a channel name, write a channel description, and add an icon. Remember, you can modify this information later in the future.
- Tap Create Channel to finish the process.
I should point out that at the time of writing this article, creating your own WhatsApp Channel is not yet possible in Kenya.
It also seems we do not have the option to create Channels at the moment. pic.twitter.com/2CGlgk88Le
— Tony Muchiri (@TonyMuchiri4) July 24, 2023
Conclusion
WhatsApp Channels are now available in several countries, including Egypt, Chile, Malaysia, Morocco, Ukraine, Kenya, and Peru. Users can create and follow broadcast channels to share timely updates with their followers. If you have the latest version of WhatsApp on your iOS, Android, or Desktop app, check if the “Updates” tab is visible to start using Channels.
For those in countries where Channels are not yet available, keep an eye out for future updates from WhatsApp, as the feature may gradually roll out to more regions in the coming months. Stay connected and informed with WhatsApp Channels!
