WhatsApp has rolled out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing version 2.25.21.24 to select Android users. The latest beta introduces a handy new feature that lets users send a wave emoji as a greeting to contacts they’ve never messaged before — offering a simple way to break the ice.

WhatsApp is getting a hand waving feature

This new function builds upon a feature first spotted in beta version 2.24.9.5, where WhatsApp began suggesting contacts from a user’s address book — specifically those they hadn’t interacted with — in a dedicated section at the bottom of the chat list.

That earlier update aimed to help new users connect more easily with people they already know. Now, the wave emoji takes it a step further by offering an effortless way to start a conversation with one of those suggested contacts.

When beta testers open a chat with someone they’ve never messaged before, a suggestion will appear at the bottom of the screen, prompting them to send a wave emoji. This feature appears only in private conversations with no message history, removing the pressure of figuring out how to start a conversation.

While the feature could be especially useful for new users, not everyone sees it as essential — some testers have questioned whether it adds meaningful value.

As of now, the wave emoji feature is still in testing, and there’s no official word on when (or if) it will roll out to all users. But if testing goes well, it could become part of a future public release.