META-OWNED social App WhatsApp has introduced a much-anticipated feature allowing users to add music to their status updates.
However, the feature is currently available only to iPhone users, with no official timeline yet for an Android release.
The new feature, which is rolling out in stages, enables WhatsApp users to attach their favourite tracks from their music library directly to photos or videos shared as part of their status updates.
This integration marks a significant shift for the popular messaging app, which has long been a leader in messaging and media sharing but lacked in-built support for music until now.
Music clips in a photo-based status are limited to 15 seconds, while those in a video status can match the duration of the video.
Once the update is installed, iPhone users will notice a new "Music" option in the status creation menu.
To use the feature, users simply need to select a photo or video for their status update, then tap the "Add Music" button, where they can browse their music library or pick a song from a range of available songs.
WhatsApp pulls in songs from popular music streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify, allowing users to add their favourite tunes to their stories.
The feature supports full-track previews of up to 30 seconds, similar to other social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where background music adds an extra layer of engagement to visual content.
Once the status is shared by the user, viewers of that Status can tap on the song label at the bottom to view the name of the track, the artist and the album art in a pop-up-like overlay. Viewers can also tap on the three-dot menu button in the overlay to view the Instagram profile of the artist whose song is featured.
This feature aims to enhance the storytelling capabilities of WhatsApp’s status feature, allowing users to express themselves more creatively.
Whether sharing a moment with friends, promoting an event, or just adding a personal touch to a status, music can now set the tone for the message being shared.
WhatsApp now joins popular social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok, which have long had the feature.
