In November 2022, WhatsApp rolled out the Communities feature for users in India on Android and iOS phones as well as on the web. The feature helps users join groups on WhatsApp that they are interested in. The idea behind this feature is to bring people together with similar interests. The Communities tab appears on iOS and Android devices. However, now, WhatsApp is bringing this tab to the iPad app as well.

According to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is improving its iPad app with a new Communities tab, as revealed in the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.13.10.74 update available on the TestFlight app. This development marks a significant upgrade, allowing iPad users to efficiently manage and navigate their group communities directly within the app. WA Beta Info also shared a screenshot that gave us a glimpse of what the new feature might look like.

Previously, WhatsApp considered introducing a Communities tab in the chat list for both iPhone and iPad users, but the idea was shelved in favour of chat filters. Despite this, the commitment to improving the community management experience on iPad remains. The new Communities tab addresses earlier limitations where iPad users had to manually search through conversations to find their communities. With the dedicated tab, users can now easily access and manage all their groups from one place.

This update is particularly beneficial for iPad users, who can now not only explore communities from their device, but also create and manage them. Prior to this update, such features were restricted to the main device, leaving iPad users with limited functionality. The latest beta update has leveled the playing field, giving iPad users extensive capabilities to handle their group chats effectively. They can now create new communities, manage existing communities, and view a complete list of all their connected groups, improving their overall experience.

It’s important to note that WhatsApp for iPad is still in beta and available via TestFlight, with no confirmed release date for the App Store. The beta program on TestFlight is currently full, preventing new testers from joining.

On a related note, WhatsApp is also planning to let users create reminders for upcoming community events. A previous report by WA Beta Info stated that WhatsApp is preparing to launch a new event reminder feature for community group chats. This will help community admins to keep members informed and engaged by allowing them to set reminders for upcoming events.

According to the screenshot shared by the publication, the event reminder option will let admins notify group members before a scheduled event. Users can choose to receive reminders 30 minutes, 2 hours, or 1 day before the event. Admins will have the flexibility to choose from two notification times, keeping in mind the diverse schedules and preferences of their community members.