Many WhatsApp users have recently noticed that the app has started displaying contact profile pictures in notifications on Android phones. This new feature shows a small thumbnail of the sender’s profile photo next to their name when you receive a WhatsApp message.
While this may seem like a minor change, it has caused some confusion and privacy concerns among users. In this article, we’ll look at why WhatsApp added profile photos to notifications, how you can disable this feature if desired, and other notification customization options.
Why Did WhatsApp Add Profile Photos to Notifications?
There are a few potential reasons why WhatsApp decided to add profile pictures to notifications:
To Make Notifications More Personal
Seeing a contact’s photo alongside their message helps provide quick visual confirmation of who messaged you. This can be handy if you have conversations with people who are not saved as contacts. It adds a more personal touch compared to just seeing a phone number or display name.
To Match Other Apps’ Notification Styles
Many popular messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and Google Hangouts display profile photos in their notifications. WhatsApp may have added this feature to modernize notifications and meet users’ expectations based on experiences with other apps.
To Increase Engagement
Research shows adding profile photos can increase interaction. One study found 56% of respondents were more likely to answer a call if they saw the caller’s photo. Displaying photos in WhatsApp notifications could similarly help drive more replies and engagement.
To Enhance Group Chat Identification
For group chats, seeing all members’ profile pictures can help you identify different conversations more easily when quickly glancing at notifications. The photos provide visual cues about who is in each group.
How to Disable WhatsApp Profile Photos in Notifications
If you don’t like having profile pictures show up in your WhatsApp notifications, there is a way to disable this feature and revert to simpler notifications. Here are the steps:
On Android
1. Open WhatsApp and tap the 3-dot menu button in the top right corner
2. Select Settings > Notifications
3. Tap Notification privacy
4. Toggle off “Show profile photos”
This will stop contact photos from appearing in your notifications. You can toggle it back on anytime if you change your mind.
On iPhone
1. Go to iPhone Settings > Notifications
2. Scroll down and select WhatsApp
3. Toggle off “Show Preview”
Disabling the Show Preview setting for WhatsApp will remove all content from notifications, including profile photos.
Customizing Other WhatsApp Notification Settings
In addition to profile photos, there are a few other notification settings you can customize for WhatsApp on Android and iOS.
Notification Tones
Want to set a specific ringtone for WhatsApp notifications? You can select unique tones for calls and messages.
On Android, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Notifications > Notification tone. On iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.
Notification Pop-up Style
Choose how incoming WhatsApp notifications display on your phone’s screen. Options include:
- Banners that appear at the top of the screen
- Alert pop-ups that need to be dismissed
- No pop-up previews; notifications only show in status bar
Adjust this in Android’s WhatsApp notification settings or iOS main notification settings.
Vibrate, Sounds, Lights
Opt to have new notifications make your phone vibrate, play sounds, or flash notification lights. Useful for avoiding distractions.
Lock Screen Previews
Show or hide message previews on your lock screen for added privacy. Change this in WhatsApp notification settings.
Notification Channels (Android)
Customize notifications for specific features like calls, messages, groups. Found in WhatsApp notification settings.
Other Ways to Identify Who’s Messaging You
Beyond profile photos in notifications, there are a few other helpful ways to see who’s messaging you on WhatsApp:
Set Custom Notification Sounds for Contacts
As mentioned above, you can set unique notification tones for specific contacts. This lets you identify callers without looking at your phone.
Use Contact Nicknames
Give memorable nicknames to important contacts so you’ll recognize their messages. Change nicknames in WhatsApp’s Contacts info screen.
Pin Important Chats
Pin up to 3 chats to the top of your WhatsApp screen for quick access to favorite conversations.
Check Notification LED Colors
Some phones blink LED lights in different colors for different contacts. Check if your phone supports this feature.
Add Widgets to Your Home Screen
WhatsApp chat widgets show recent messages and contact names at a glance on your home screen.
The Pros and Cons of Profile Photos in Notifications
Displaying profile pictures alongside WhatsApp notifications has some potential benefits, but also some downsides depending on your preferences:
Potential Benefits
- Lets you quickly identify contacts when glancing at notifications
- Provides visual confirmation of group chat members
- Feels more personal compared to plain text notifications
- Matches the style of other major messaging apps
Potential Drawbacks
- Privacy concerns since anyone can view notifications on your lock screen
- Could slow down loading of notifications
- Uses more battery power to load images
- Less clean, uniform look vs plain text notifications
So in summary, while this new feature provides some benefits, it also raises understandable privacy worries and may not appeal aesthetically to some users. The option to fully disable profile photos allows you to choose what’s right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WhatsApp always show profile pictures in notifications?
No, this is an optional feature that is enabled by default but can be disabled in WhatsApp notification settings on Android and iOS.
Can I turn off notifications for specific WhatsApp chats?
Yes, you can disable notifications for individual chats. Long press the chat and select Mute notifications. You can mute for 8 hours, 1 week, or always.
Can I stop my profile picture showing up in other people’s notifications?
There’s no setting to prevent your profile photo appearing in contacts’ notifications. As long as they have the “Show profile photos” setting enabled, your photo will show up when you message them.
Will this drain my phone’s battery life faster?
Potentially. Displaying images in notifications requires slightly more battery power. The impact depends on factors like screen size and notification frequency. But for most users it should be marginal.
Does WhatsApp have an API for developers?
Yes, WhatsApp provides a developer API and platform that allows building third-party apps that interact with WhatsApp. This can be used to create chatbots, business tools for customer support, and more. The WhatsApp Business API requires approval.
Conclusion
WhatsApp adding profile photos to notifications can be a helpful way to identify contacts at a glance. However, if you don’t like this feature, disabling it is simple enough. Make sure to explore the other notification customization options so you can fine-tune WhatsApp to match your preferences and get the most out of its communication features.