WhatsApp is testing a new contacts tab on Android featuring birthday reminders and an online status indicator. 

WhatsApp has begun testing a dedicated contacts tab on Android that brings together the friends list, contact indicators, and birthday reminders in one place.

The new tab aims to make it easier to find people and see who is available, as spotted by WABetaInfo.

WhatsApp's New Contacts Tab

The tab appears in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.40.3 and builds upon a previous plan to display connected contacts within the settings.

It features a search bar that allows users to find contacts by name, phone number, or username.

Sort by activity

Users can sort contacts alphabetically or by activity.

Sorting by activity displays currently online users first, followed by those who were recently active, with a green dot appearing next to those who are online.

Birthday Reminder

Contacts celebrating their birthday today may appear with a cake icon and the label "Birthday today," depending on the information saved in your phone's address book.

The tab also includes an "Invite a friend" option at the bottom and a shortcut to chat with Meta AI.

Privacy is preserved

the new tab will not reveal the status of those who hide their online presence or "last seen" timestamp, as it merely organizes information that WhatsApp is already permitted to display.

The feature remains under development and is not yet available to the general public; WhatsApp has not announced an official release date.