A new beta of WhatsApp is bringing a welcome feature, giving users the ability to toggle the new side-by-side interface for tablets.
A recent update to WhatsApp introduced a new interface for tablets that took advantage of the increased screen real estate compared to a phone. Users who preferred the old interface were out of luck, with no way to switch back.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is testing a feature that would allow users to toggle side-by-side view off and use the old phone-style interface on tablets.
As you can see in this screenshot, users can disable the side-by-side view by toggling the option available within WhatsApp Settings > Chats. Thanks to this option, users now have more control over the WhatsApp interface on their Android tablets.
Some users wanted to disable the side-by-side view on WhatsApp to get a larger interface for their conversations. The side-by-side view splits the screen, which can result in a smaller area for each conversation, especially on devices with smaller screens. In addition, some users simply prefer the traditional single-window view and may find the side-by-side view distracting or inconvenient. Finally, WhatsApp is rolling out a toggle to disable the side-by-side view.