Bell on WhatsApp: Think carefully about whether you press it

• At the end of 2023, WhatsApp launched the channels worldwide. This allows stars, companies and clubs to get in touch with you via Messenger.
• The channels are muted at the factory. This means you will not be informed about new messages via push notification.
• You can change this using the bell.

“To make sure you don’t miss any updates, subscribe to our channel and press the bell,” you probably know this saying from YouTube. But it can now also be read more often in connection with the messenger WhatsApp. Why? A new feature, the channels in WhatsApp, has been available since the end of 2023. Stars, companies, organizations or clubs can use the channels to provide their fans with news directly via Messenger.

Among other things, numerous football clubs – such as FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund – already have a WhatsApp channel, but also services such as Netflix. WhatsApp is also continually expanding the function. While it was initially only possible to send messages with images and videos, voice messages and surveys have recently also been able to be shared in channels.

Enable notifications for channels

If you subscribe to a channel, it is muted by default. This means that you will not be notified of news updates, but will only see them if you actively access the channel. This is symbolized by the crossed-out bell at the top right of the channel name. To change this, you have to tap the bell after subscribing. You will then be informed about new messages in the channel via push notification. As if friends were sending you a WhatsApp message.

You should only press the bell if you really want to receive push messages from this channel. Especially if you have subscribed to many channels, the mass of notifications can be annoying. Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not show in the “News” tab which channels you have activated notifications for and which you have not. So you have to open each channel individually and, if necessary, mute it again by pressing the bell again.

You can see at a glance whether there are new messages in a channel, even without a push message. All you have to do is open the “Current” tab. Your subscribed channels are listed at the bottom of the screen. WhatsApp also lists in green text whether there are unread notifications.

Another new button related to channels

With the introduction of the channels, WhatsApp has also changed the status area in Messenger. This is now called “Current” and, in addition to the status reports from your contacts, also includes your subscribed channels and suggestions for channels that might interest you. If you don’t like this new view, you can now get the old one back using a button.

By the way: The bell is not the only new symbol in Messenger. In another text we explain to you what the pin in WhatsApp chats is all about.

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