How to share a channel update

Copy link
Android
iOS
Web
Mac
Sharing updates through your channel is similar to how you might already use WhatsApp to send messages to your friends and family, but there are key differences.
Updates appear in a separate tab of the app, away from your personal chats and calls. Channel updates are a one-way broadcast rather than a conversation. Updates are always shared from your channel, and followers won't see your name or phone number.
Most importantly, channels aren't end-to-end encrypted.

Your updates are public

Anything you share is public and visible to:
  • All followers: Followers can see all channel updates, including updates shared 30 days before they began following your channel.
  • People who don't follow your channel: Anyone can see channel updates from the past 30 days.
  • WhatsApp: Channel updates are reviewed against the Channels Guidelines.
  • People on other channels: If your update was forwarded to another channel.
Create updates to keep your channel followers engaged by:
  • Keeping written updates short, concise, and focused on a specific topic.
  • Providing helpful information like tips and tricks, time-saving hacks, or the latest how-to's.
  • Sharing timely and up-to-date information.
You're responsible for keeping the content on your channel safe, relevant, and appropriate for your followers. Learn more in our Channels Guidelines.

Share text updates

  1. From the Updates tab, tap your channel.
  2. Enter a written update. You can add:
    • Formatting: Add formatting such as underline, bold, or strikethrough.
    • Emojis: Tap
      Emoji (smiley face)
      to open the emoji menu in WhatsApp, or use the emoji button on your phone's keyboard.
    • Links: Enter a link to your update. The link appears with a preview of the content and an image, when available.
  3. When your update is ready, tap
    Send (paper airplane)
    .
You can also forward messages from chats to your channel. Learn how to forward a channel update to your channel.

Share images and video

  1. Tap
    Attach (paper clip)
    to share images or videos.
  2. Select:
    • Camera to take a picture or video with your camera.
    • Gallery to select an existing photo or video from your phone. Tap and hold to select multiple images.
  3. You can also:
  4. Tap
    Send (paper airplane)
    .
Note:
  • Followers can save any media you share.
  • You can't share PDFs to your channel.

Share stickers

  1. Tap
    Emoji (smiley face)
    >
    stickers
    .
  2. Select and tap a sticker.
    • The sticker will be shared as soon as you tap it.
    • Followers can save your shared stickers.
You can download more sticker packs or create your own stickers.

Create and share AI stickers

You can create your own stickers using AI and share them to your channel. We're rolling out AI features gradually, so you might not have access yet.
  1. Tap
    Emoji (smiley face)
    >
    stickers
    .
  2. Tap Create > Generate with AI. If prompted, tap Continue.
  3. Enter a description of a sticker.
    • WhatsApp will generate up to four new stickers.
  4. Tap a sticker to share or edit your description to generate more stickers.
    • The sticker will be shared as soon as you tap it.
Learn more about how to create and share AI stickers in this article.
Note:
  • AI stickers on WhatsApp are generated by artificial intelligence (AI), based on the text you enter, using a service from Meta.
  • At this time, sticker descriptions are only supported in English, Indonesian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
  • This feature is currently only available in limited countries and may not be available to you yet.

Share avatar stickers

  1. Tap
    Emoji (smiley face)
    .
  2. Tap your avatar or avatar icon.
  3. Select and tap a sticker.
    • The sticker will be shared as soon as you tap it.
Learn more about how to use avatars on WhatsApp.

Share voice updates

  1. Tap and hold
    Microphone (microphone within circle)
    , then start speaking. You can also tap
    Microphone (microphone within circle)
    and swipe up for hands-free recording.
  2. When you're finished recording your audio, release
    Microphone (microphone within circle)
    to automatically share your update.
    • If you're recording hands-free, tap
      pause
      to pause recording and preview a draft of your update before sharing. Tap
      Microphone Resume (red microphone)
      to continue recording.
You can convert voice updates into text transcripts for easy access. Learn more about voice update transcripts for WhatsApp Channels.
Note:
  • If you press and hold
    Microphone (microphone within circle)
    to record your audio update, you can slide left to cancel it.
  • If the beginning of your audio hasn't been recorded, you might need to wait a second before speaking.

Share video notes in channels

You can record and share videos notes up to 60 seconds long directly in your channel.
  1. Open your channel.
  2. Tap and hold
    Camera
    .
    • Tap
      Camera Flip (two curved white arrows revolving around a white dot within circle)
      to change between the front and back camera.
  3. Release to stop recording and send your video note.
To record hands free, tap
Camera
and swipe up. Tap
Send (paper airplane)
to send your video note. Alternatively, open your channel and tap
camera
> Video note.