Recently, WhatsApp has been rapidly expanding its feature set. It just debuted its brand-new Status feature, which is virtually identical to Instagram Stories, which in turn was a rip-off of Snapchat Stories. Recent upgrades have added features like video calls, two-step verification, and it recently presented its brand-new Status feature. The new WhatsApp Status feature requires you to publish photographs, videos, and GIFs, which vanish after 24 hours, in contrast to the former text-based Status updates. Well, I for one am not a fan of the new Status function. Therefore, there are methods to revert to the old WhatsApp status on Android smartphones if you would want to write song lyrics or moving quotes as Status:
Quick Note: While the strategies I’ve tested below are currently effective, I’m not sure if they will continue to be effective in the future.
Get Old WhatsApp Status on Non-Rooted Devices
You can just install an older version of WhatsApp on non-rooted smartphones to restore the previous Status. The version of WhatsApp that worked for me after trying multiple older builds was 2.17.60. Simply download and install this version of WhatsApp from APKMirror.
After completing the account setup process, the previous WhatsApp home page without the Status tab should appear.
While this approach currently works, WhatsApp may decide to stop supporting earlier versions of the app in the near future. There is a workaround in that situation that ought to be compatible with most WhatsApp versions.
Get Old WhatsApp Status on Rooted Devices
This solution to restore the previous WhatsApp status needs an Android device that has been root access. It’s also crucial to mention that this solution worked flawlessly when I tested it on WhatsApp version 2.17.77. In WhatsApp Settings->About and Help->About, you may view your version information. You can still try the process if you have a different version of WhatsApp, but if it doesn’t work, you can download the one I’m using from APKMirror.
So, if you’re ready, you’ll need a file manager programme with root access capability. You can use the file manager of your choice; I’m using the free ES File Explorer. Following the installation of the file manager, follow these instructions to restore the previous WhatsApp status:
1. Go to Settings > Applications > WhatsApp and select Force Stop.
2. Next, enable Root Explorer in ES File Explorer or your chosen file manager. It is located in the left sidebar of ES File Explorer. Choose RW for everything if the app asks you to choose the correct Root Explorer permissions.
3. After finishing, access device files. You can select Device in ES File Explorer by tapping on Local first in the sidebar. Navigate to the data->data->com.whatsapp->shared prefs folder once the Device folder has opened.
4. To access the com.whatsapp preferences.xml file, touch on it in the shared prefs folder. To open the file, you will be prompted to select an editor. Either the text editor included with your file manager, or the ES Note Editor, are options. When the file has opened, select the Edit option by tapping the three-dot menu button.
5. Find the text that reads “status mode value= 1” in the com.whatsapp preferences.xml file. You only need to alter the 1 to 0 once you locate it. Make sure you don’t modify any other content. Save the XML file when finished.
6. Simply open WhatsApp after finishing, and the Status tab will be gone. The Calls, Chats, and Contacts tab is where you’ll find it. You can also set the same old text status in WhatsApp by tapping the Status option, which is located in the menu.
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Rollback to Old WhatsApp Status Easily
Well, these are some straightforward ways to restore the previous WhatsApp Status. While you can restore the old WhatsApp Status, individuals who are using the new WhatsApp Status feature will not be able to view your text Status update or see your previous WhatsApp Status. If you’re okay with it, try these strategies to get your previous WhatsApp status. Please let me know if you run into any difficulties. Comment here and share your thoughts.