Meta-owned WhatsApp allows users to make voice and video calls on the platform. This also means that several times we end up getting calls from unknown people. But according to recent reports, that will change very soon as the instant-messaging platform is working on a new feature that will silence calls from unknown numbers.

The upcoming feature, called ‘silence unknown callers’, will allow users to mute calls from unknown numbers while the number still shows up the calls log and notification centre.

The new feature is currently under development on WhatsApp beta for Android, the WABetaInfo report said. Apart from minimising disruptions, the much-awaited feature will also allow users to avoid spam calls.

The report further informs that the toggle for silencing unknown callers will be available on WhatsApp as a toggle located in the Settings.

Once the feature is enabled, calls from unknown numbers will get silenced and the user will receive no ringer. However, the notification of missing the call from unknown contact will still be shown in the calls list and notification centre. This way the users will still be aware of the calls they missed from unsaved WhatsApp contacts.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp is also working on adding a calling shortcut button to the platform which will let users initiate a WhatsApp call directly from their contact list on the phone without having to open the platform.

The calling shortcut button for WhatsApp calls will appear under the contact card, next to cellular calling thumbnails.Apart from this, the social network will soon launch a new ‘Split view’ feature for tablets on Android beta, which will allow users to see and use two different sections of the application side by side at the same time.

Usually, the WhatsApp chat view on the tablet takes up the entire screen. Users have to go back to the chat list again if they want to open a different conversation but with this upcoming new feature from the tech giant, the chat list will always be visible when opening a chat.