WhatsApp is working on a new feature designed to help iPhone users find photos, videos, links and other files shared in their conversations without having to scroll through lengthy chat histories. The upcoming tool, called Media Hub, would bring previously received media together in one place, making it easier to browse, search and manage content shared through the messaging platform.
The feature was previously introduced in WhatsApp versions for Mac and the web. It has now been spotted in development in the iOS beta version 26.42.10.74, according to reports from B92, citing GSMArena.
Although the feature has appeared in an iOS beta build, it is still under development and is not yet available to beta testers. WhatsApp has not announced an official release date.
Media Hub is expected to be accessible through WhatsApp’s settings, where users will be able to browse media received across their conversations. Rather than treating every conversation as a separate collection of files, the feature will organize supported content in a centralized interface.
The new hub will focus on content received from other people. According to the information reported so far, it will not include media sent by the user themselves. Messages and content configured to disappear after a specified period will also be excluded.
Two Sections for Browsing Shared Content
The planned interface will include two main sections, called “New” and “All media,” each serving a different purpose.
The “New” section will display recently received media, allowing users to find content without searching through older material. This could be helpful when someone has just received several photographs from a friend or a collection of videos in a group conversation.
Meanwhile, “All media” will provide access to the available content in a broader view. Users will be able to browse older items alongside more recent ones, making it easier to locate something they remember receiving previously.
Filters and Display Options Will Offer More Control
Media Hub is also expected to provide several options for organizing the items displayed on screen.
Users will be able to filter content by category, separating photographs, videos and links. This could reduce the time spent browsing unrelated material when someone is looking for a particular type of file.
The feature is also expected to offer two viewing formats: a list and a grid. The grid view could make visual content easier to browse, particularly when searching for a photograph based on its appearance. The list view, meanwhile, may be more convenient for users who prefer a more structured presentation.
Another planned option will allow users to highlight content they particularly like. This would give them a way to distinguish useful or interesting items from the rest of the collection.
Built-In Search Could Make Older Photos and Links Easier to Find
Finding an old attachment can be difficult when a conversation contains hundreds or thousands of messages. Users may remember the subject of a photograph or the general topic of a link but have no idea when it was originally shared.
Media Hub is expected to support searches using descriptions associated with photographs, videos and links. This could help users locate relevant items without needing to remember the exact date they received them.
For example, someone who received a useful website link in a group conversation might be able to search for information associated with that link rather than scrolling through the entire chat. Similarly, searching for a relevant description could make it easier to identify particular photographs or videos.
The precise scope of the search functionality remains to be confirmed. However, the reported plans suggest that WhatsApp wants to make previously received content more accessible through a dedicated search experience.
Additional Actions Will Be Available for Each Item
Media Hub is also expected to let users interact with individual items directly from the centralized interface.
Reported options include forwarding content to another conversation, reacting to an item, marking it with a star and opening the conversation where it was originally received.
These actions could reduce the number of steps required to manage shared content. For instance, a user who finds a useful link could forward it to another contact without first navigating back to the original chat.
The option to jump directly to the conversation where an item was received could also provide useful context. Rather than viewing a photograph or video in isolation, users would still have a way to return to the discussion surrounding it.
Starred items would offer another way to distinguish content worth keeping readily accessible. This could be helpful when users come across important information that they expect to need again.
When Will WhatsApp Release Media Hub for iPhone?
For now, Media Hub remains under development. Although the feature has been identified in WhatsApp’s iOS beta version 26.42.10.74, it is not yet available even to beta testers.
WhatsApp is expected to test the feature with a limited group of users through a future update before deciding whether to expand its availability. The timing of that testing phase and a possible public rollout have not been confirmed.
As with other features discovered during development, the final version could differ from the interface and capabilities currently being worked on. Some options may change before the feature becomes available to a wider audience.
For iPhone users, the main benefit would be straightforward: less time searching through individual chats and a more organized way to find content received in the past. Until WhatsApp confirms a release date, however, users will have to wait to see when Media Hub becomes available.
