WhatsApp just broke iPhone users' muscle memory with one simple update

If you’ve been jabbing at the wrong tab every time you open WhatsApp lately, you’re not alone. iPhone users are suddenly dealing with a navigation bar that’s been completely reshuffled, and the internet is not happy about it.

This new layout change appears to be rolling out with a server-side update, which explains why not everyone is seeing it despite running the same version of the app.

According to posts surfacing on Reddit and X, people are finding their previously familiar bottom navigation bar has been scrambled. Some users are reporting the sequence as “Chats, Calls, Communities, Updates, Settings” while others are seeing “Chats, Updates, Communities, Calls, Settings.” The inconsistency is making things even more frustrating.

Multiple users mentioned they had disabled auto-updates in the App Store, yet the changes still appeared because WhatsApp is pushing this through their servers instead of through a traditional app update. That means your muscle memory from years of using the app is suddenly worthless, and there’s no way to roll back.

I haven’t received the update yet. But I’m actually looking forward to the change. More often than not, I’m looking for change, which is precisely why I’m usually checking out beta updates on phones, PCs, and even apps for the most part.

That said, this isn’t the only change that’s in the works. Apart from just shuffling the navigation bar buttons, WhatsApp is currently also testing its new Liquid Glass design to bring the app in line with iOS 26’s design language.

So, in short, WhatsApp users need to get ready to adapt to the new changes that are rolling out gradually. Share your thoughts on the layout in the comments below.