WeChat Feature Updates on New iOS 8.0.21 and Android 8.0.22
WeChat recently rolled out its latest app update for iOS 8.0.21 and Android 8.0.22, with a handful of changes to how users can manage their accounts and interact with each other on the app.
Here, let’s explore these feature updates and what they entail for the WeChat user experience.
Note: At the time of writing this article, the updates have been applied to all WeChat user accounts.
WeChat Feature Update #1: Newsfeed Posts on WeChat Moments Can be Forwarded
In WeChat’s latest version, users can now long-press any newsfeed post on their WeChat Moments and tap “Forward” in the pop-up bar to send it to themselves or (more commonly) other WeChat friends. This serves as a way for users to share content—whether text, images, videos, or links—to each other on WeChat Moments.
WeChat Moments: Newsfeed posts can now be forwarded to yourself or other WeChat friends
When you receive a forwarded newsfeed post, it will appear in a standalone message like any ordinary message on WeChat Moments—but you’ll not be able to see which account or author the post originated from since it was forwarded.
WeChat Feature Update #2: Group Admins Can Attach Images, Files, and Location to Group Chat Rules
Previously, WeChat group admins could only share information under group chat notices/rules in written form.
After the update, however, group chat admins can now attach images, files, and location tags in the group rules section, which gives announcements more clarity and context for members to understand.
WeChat group chat admins can now attach images, files, and location tags to group chat rules
WeChat Feature Update #3: Easier Managing of App Storage Space
WeChat tends to occupy a considerable amount of storage on most mobile devices. So, if a user wanted to free up space on their device by cleaning up their WeChat storage usage, they would have legitimate concerns that doing so might erase messages they did not plan to delete.
In its latest version, however, WeChat lets you know exactly how much space is occupied by different media types and categories within the app, from messages and stickers to images and applets. This means you can clean up your WeChat storage space based on your personal needs.
Similarly, users can also clear caches from WeChat properties of their choice—like WeChat Moments or WeChat Channels—and delete message history from private or group chats.
WeChat now shows users how much storage space is used by different media types within the app
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WeChat Feature Update #4: Showcase Your Ringtone History
In WeChat’s Android 8.0.22 version, the ringtone interface for incoming calls now showcases a historical record of ringtones you’ve used in the past, which is also visible to other WeChat users.
WeChat’s latest Android 8.0.22 version showcases a history of your ringtones
WeChat Feature Update #5: Optimized QR Code Payment Function
WeChat’s Android 8.0.22 version has optimized the QR code payment function, adding more user settings like automated voice reminders for receipts of payment.
Each user’s real name—identified by an asterisk—and any of their associated WeChat usernames or nicknames are also displayed above the QR code.
WeChat’s QR code payment interfaces for iOS 8.0.21 (left) and Android 8.0.22 (right)
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Although seemingly small-scale and incremental, these WeChat app updates make for a more streamlined user experience and are also in line with WeChat’s wider push to minimize disruption and focus user attention on key products.
