WhatsApp: Delete “Current” – this is how you get rid of unwanted channels

• Companies, organizations and clubs can provide fans with news via WhatsApp channels.
• Messages from channels and status messages from contacts are now displayed combined in the “What’s new in Messenger” area.
• But not everyone wants this. However, you cannot currently delete the channels or hide them directly. However, since 2024 it has been possible to restore the old view for status messages.

WhatsApp recently added a new feature called channels. Initially it was only available for Android devices, but since October 2023 it has also been available on the iPhone thanks to the update to version 23.20.79, as the changelog in the App Store reveals.

Channels provide a way for companies, organizations and people to communicate with multiple contacts at the same time. In contrast to groups and communities, you can think of a channel more like a newsletter. Subscribers cannot respond to messages published there.

You can find the option in the new “Current” tab, which replaces the “Status” tab. However, all features of the old tab are integrated into the new one. Apparently the merger bothers some users and they are wondering whether the function can be deactivated.

Old version may help temporarily

There is currently no option to hide or deactivate channels, but you can try to avoid them on Android phones by installing an old WhatsApp version from August 2023. Then the “Status” tab should be visible again instead of “Current”. You can find out what you need to pay attention to in the linked instructions. Also note that this is not a permanent solution. At some point you will have to update to the current WhatsApp version and then you will no longer be able to avoid the channels.

This is how you restore the old view

You can’t install an old WhatsApp version on iOS devices, but you can at least restore the old view in the “Current” tab with a trick. By the way, this also works on Android devices.

Once you have subscribed to channels, their messages take up almost the entire screen. You can only see your friends’ status messages listed horizontally next to each other and no longer vertically one below the other. This changes as soon as you unfollow all channels (see picture). The following video shows you how to do this.

Your friends’ status messages will then be prominently displayed again in the “Current” tab. However, WhatsApp continues to advertise the channels at the bottom of the screen and suggests channels that may be of interest to you. These suggestions cannot be ignored.

So far there is no way to influence the type of suggestions; what you see is apparently not determined by your interests, but WhatsApp defines a number of channels and recommends them to all users.

New button brings back old view

However, anyone who wants the old status view back but wants to subscribe to channels at the same time has been out of luck so far. Now there is a solution for this case: Since January 2024, a new button with the inscription “Show all” has been visible on Android phones next to the status messages of your contacts. If you tap on this, you will only see the status messages from your contacts listed. By pressing the arrow you return to the combined view and can devote yourself to the updates from your subscribed channels.

WhatsApp Plus or Watusi as an alternative?

Some of you may come up with the idea of ​​using a clone like WhatsApp Plus or Watusi instead of WhatsApp to get rid of the channels. We advise against this, as in this case there is a risk that your account will be blocked by WhatsApp.

This is how you unsubscribe to channels

If you have subscribed to one or more channels and no longer want to follow them, you must proceed as follows, according to WhatsApp:

• Opens the channel.
• Tap on the three dots in the top right corner.
• Now select unsubscribe.

This is how you can delete your created channels

Have you created a WhatsApp channel yourself and no longer want to use it? Then you can of course delete it. According to WhatsApp, you have to do the following:

• Open WhatsApp and click on the “News” tab at the bottom.
• There you select the channel you want and click on the name.
• Now “Delete channel” appears.
• A warning message appears saying “It will not be possible to restore the channel” and “Previous activities will remain on followers’ devices.”
• Click on “Delete”.
• Select the country using WhatsApp and add your phone number.
• Now finally click on “Delete”.

Note that subscribers can still find your channel, but will see a notice that it has been deleted. Your last messages saved on their phones can also still be viewed by them.

We will explain to you how you can create a WhatsApp channel yourself in the linked instructions. We will also tell you whether the Netflix and Amazon Prime Video channels are worth it.

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