If you’ve ever ruined a show twist in a group chat, or had one ruined for you, this update might be welcome.
WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new anti-spoiler feature that will let users hide parts of their messages until the recipient chooses to reveal them.
The feature is not live yet, but references have appeared in the latest TestFlight beta build.
WhatsApp to add “Spoiler” as a formatting option
The feature was spotted by WABetaInfo, which reports that WhatsApp is developing a new “Spoiler” formatting tool for text messages.
It is currently still in development and not available for beta testers, but here is how it is expected to work.
The Spoiler option will appear alongside existing formatting tools like:
- Bold
- Italic
- Strikethrough
When selected, the chosen text will be covered with a gray bar. Recipients will need to tap on it to reveal the hidden content.
In other words, you can send a message without immediately exposing the key detail.
How the spoiler syntax works
Like many WhatsApp formatting tools, this feature will also support manual syntax.
To mark text as a spoiler, users can wrap the content with double pipes:
||This is hidden||
That means you will not always need to use the formatting menu. Just type the pipes before and after the text you want concealed.
For anyone used to Discord or Reddit formatting, this will feel instantly familiar.
Will spoilers work for images?
Right now, there is no confirmation that the spoiler feature will extend to photos, videos, or other media.
According to WABetaInfo, the current development references only mention text support. There is no indication yet that images will get similar treatment.
That said, WhatsApp has been steadily expanding its formatting and privacy tools over the past few years, so broader support would not be surprising.
When will it launch?
As with most features discovered in WhatsApp beta builds, there is no official release timeline.
Sometimes these features roll out within weeks. Other times they quietly disappear or take months to ship.
Still, the addition makes sense. Messaging apps are increasingly doubling as live commentary spaces for TV shows, movies, sports, and games. A built-in spoiler tool feels overdue.
If WhatsApp executes this cleanly, it could become one of those small but widely used features that quickly feels essential.
