WhatsApp Introduces ‘Message Summaries’ to Help Users Catch Up on Missed Chats

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature aimed at helping users quickly get up to speed on unread conversations. Called Message Summaries, the tool provides short, private overviews of missed messages — ideal for users returning from offline periods or navigating multiple chats during busy days.

The feature is powered by Meta’s Private Processing technology, which ensures that summaries are generated directly on the user’s device. According to WhatsApp, this means neither the company nor its parent firm Meta can view message content or the generated summaries. “No one else in the chat will know you’ve used the feature,” the company said, reaffirming that privacy remains at the heart of the new update.

Message Summaries are entirely optional and disabled by default. Users can choose to activate them through the Advanced Chat Privacy settings, with the flexibility to apply the feature only to selected conversations.

Initially available in English for users in the United States, WhatsApp has confirmed that Message Summaries will be introduced in other languages and regions later in the year. The company has also published an engineering blog for those interested in the technical workings of its Private Processing framework.

The announcement comes just weeks after WhatsApp’s May 2025 update, which expanded voice chat capabilities to groups of all sizes. Voice chats allow users to jump into real-time conversations without disrupting others, as the chat begins quietly without ringing participants. Instead, users can join or leave at any time, with the ongoing voice chat pinned to the bottom of the group conversation for easy access.

Previously available only to large groups, the voice chat feature can now be used in any group setting. To start a session, users simply swipe up from the bottom of the chat window and hold. As with all WhatsApp features, voice chats remain protected by end-to-end encryption, ensuring privacy across all conversations.

Together, Message Summaries and expanded voice chat tools mark a continued effort by WhatsApp to enhance user convenience without compromising its long-standing commitment to privacy.