WhatsApp Adds ‘@all’ Mentions and Poll Upgrades to Groups

WhatsApp is introducing three exciting updates to group chats today. You can now mention every member at once with @all, enjoy several enhancements to polls, and create new groups more quickly from existing ones.

The ‘@all’ Feature Explained

If you’ve used Slack or Discord, this will feel familiar. Typing @all in a WhatsApp group chat sends a notification to every member in that group, not just those currently active. It’s like calling everyone into the room instead of leaving a note on the kitchen table.

This feature is especially handy for urgent announcements in large family groups, school parent chats, or work teams using WhatsApp. Previously, you had to rely on people’s notifications being on or tag each person individually.

Poll Upgrades: Three New Improvements

WhatsApp’s polls in group chats are receiving three key upgrades:

• See who voted for what: Group admins (and potentially all members, based on settings) can now view which participants selected which answer. This adds transparency to group decisions.
• More answer options: You can now add more choices to a single poll, giving you greater flexibility for complex questions.
• Poll notifications: Members will receive a reminder notification when a poll is about to close, helping ensure more people participate.

Polls first appeared in WhatsApp groups back in 2022, and this update is the most substantial change since their introduction. For those using group chats to organize events, select restaurants, or make team decisions, these updates make polls far more useful.

Spinning Up New Groups Faster

WhatsApp is adding a shortcut that lets you create a new group straight from an existing one. Instead of re-adding contacts one at a time, you can select members from your current group and quickly start a new chat with just those people.

This feature is perfect for when a large group chat generates a side conversation that needs its own space—like pulling out the planning committee from a larger neighborhood association group.

What This Means For You

If you’re part of any active WhatsApp group—be it family, sports, neighborhood watch, or work—these updates eliminate several long-standing frustrations.

The @all mention is the most significant change. If you need everyone’s attention for something urgent, you either flood the chat with individual tags or send a message and hope for the best. The @all feature simplifies that in one keystroke. However, expect some groups to misuse it right away—there’s always someone who’ll share a meme.

The poll enhancements might seem subtle but are genuinely helpful. With the ability to see who voted for what, group decisions become more accountable. Plus, the closing-time notifications ensure fewer people miss the chance to weigh in. For anyone coordinating with more than five people, these changes are real time-savers.

The group fork feature is especially beneficial for large community or family chats, where side conversations can get lost. Instead of asking everyone to join a new group manually, you simply select the relevant people and branch off instantly.

Community Reactions

“The @all feature is going to be amazing for our work group… and immediately abused by my cousins in the family chat.”

“Finally seeing who voted in polls. Now I can passive-aggressively know who voted for pizza AGAIN.”

Availability

WhatsApp has confirmed that all three features are rolling out starting today, August 4, 2026, for both iOS and Android users. As with most WhatsApp updates, the rollout may take a few days to reach everyone. If you don’t see the features yet, check for an app update in the App Store or Google Play.

For more details, you can read the original reports from MacRumors and 9to5Mac.

What To Watch

• Rolling availability: Check your App Store or Google Play for an update if these features aren’t showing up yet—the rollout could take several days to reach all users worldwide.
• Admin controls for @all: Keep an eye on whether WhatsApp allows group admins to restrict who can use @all, as unrestricted access in large groups could lead to chaos.
• Messenger and Instagram DMs: Meta, which owns WhatsApp, often rolls out similar features across its other messaging apps. Expect @all or poll upgrades to appear in Messenger and Instagram group chats soon.
• Continued group chat competition: With iMessage, Telegram, and Signal all actively enhancing their group features, WhatsApp’s updates are part of a larger effort to retain users.