WhatsApp Icons and Symbols Meaning Explained: A Complete Guide

It’s completely normal to feel confused by WhatsApp’s icons and symbols at first. Like any new app, it takes time to understand what each button and symbol does. If you’ve ever wondered what a tick mark, clock, or muted icon means, you’re not alone.

Understanding these icons helps you use WhatsApp more confidently and avoid confusion while chatting, calling, or checking updates. In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning of all WhatsApp icons and symbols, explained in simple terms so you always know what’s happening on your screen.

WhatsApp uses dozens of icons, but there’s no need to memorize them all at once. To make things easier, this guide breaks them down based on how you actually use the app:

• Chats tab: Message ticks, camera, mute, pin, and more
• Inside conversations: Voice notes, reactions, forwarding, and media icons
• Calls: Audio and video call icons
• Status and Channels (Updates tab): Status rings, mute indicators, and posting icons

Now, let’s dive deeper section by section.

1. Chats Tab Icons

When you open WhatsApp, you land on the Chats tab, where all your conversations and common icons appear. You’ll see options like the camera, mute, and pin at the top, and symbols inside each chat, such as ticks, emojis, and call buttons. Here’s a quick guide to what each icon means and how to use it.

1.1 Symbols and Icons on WhatsApp Chats Tab

1. Camera Icon: This icon lets you capture a photo or video and send it instantly to a chat or post it to your status. Tap it to open the camera right away.
2. New List (Plus in Circle): Tap this icon to create a custom list of chats quickly.
3. Pin Icon: Pinning a chat in WhatsApp keeps it at the top of your list, no matter what new messages come in. You can pin up to three chats, including groups, so your key conversations stay easy to find.
4. @ Symbol: Appears when someone mentions you in a group. If the group is busy with many messages, tap the @ icon to jump directly to the message where you were mentioned.
5. Mute Icon: This bell with a cross line through it shows that notifications for that chat are silenced.
6. Meta AI (Gradient Circle): Opens Meta AI to ask questions, get suggestions, or generate images on WhatsApp. Tap it to start interacting with the AI.
   
7. Green Plus or Chat Icon: You can use this icon to start a new chat with a contact, create a group, or save a new contact.
8. QR Code Icon (Android): You’ll see a small patterned square in the chat toolbar, usually at the top right on Android. Tap it to open WhatsApp’s UPI QR scanner. Confirm your bank account is set up in WhatsApp Pay, then scan any UPI QR code to pay instantly.
9. Three Dot: Opens a pop-up menu with options such as new group, linked devices, settings, and more. Tap to see all available actions.
10. A Small Green Circle With a Number on It: This shows the number of unread messages in a particular chat, helping you identify which chats need attention.
11. Disappearing Messages Clock: It appears on a contact’s or group’s picture when disappearing messages are turned on. It means new messages in that chat will automatically delete after the chosen time.
    

1.2 Inside Individual Chats

1. Double Blue Tick: Appears once the recipient has read your message. If it doesn’t turn blue, it means either the person has turned off read receipts or hasn’t opened the chat yet.
2. Double Grey Tick: Appears when your message has been delivered to the recipient’s device but hasn’t been read yet.
3. Single Grey Tick: Shows that your message has been sent from your side but has not yet been delivered to the recipient.
4. Clock Icon (Pending Message): You’ll see the clock icon when a message hasn’t left your phone yet. It usually appears during a weak or lost internet connection. Once you’re back online, it switches to a single grey tick, double grey ticks, or double blue ticks, based on whether the message is sent, delivered, or read.
5. HD Icon on Photos: This icon shows up when a photo is sent or received in high quality on WhatsApp. Photos are usually compressed, but if the sender selects the HD option, the image is delivered at a higher resolution, and the small HD badge confirms it.
6. Forwarded (Single or Double): A single arrow means the message was forwarded once, while a double arrow shows it was forwarded multiple times.
7. Twisted Arrow Icon: Shows up beside photos, videos, documents, and links you share or receive. Tap it to forward the item to someone else instantly, without downloading or uploading again.
8. Emoji Below a Chat: This shows reactions to a specific message. You can tap and hold a message to add or change the emoji reaction.
9. Downward Arrow Icon (Scroll to Bottom): Appears at the bottom right corner of a chat when you scroll up away from the latest messages. It’s shown just above the mic icon. Tap it anytime to instantly jump back down to the most recent message in that chat.
   
10. Stickers Icon: Opens the sticker section, where you can select and send stickers in the conversation.
11. Clip or Plus Icon: Tapping this opens a pop-up that lets you attach files, media, contacts, or your location directly in the chat. You can also create polls and make a payment to the contact.
12. Currency Icon: Currency Icon appears in supported regions only. Tap it to send money directly to the contact through the chat.
13. Photo Camera Icon: Opens the camera instantly so you can take a photo or video and send it directly in the chat. You can also choose and send any media (photo or video) from your photo gallery.
    
14. Play Button: Appears on voice notes and videos. Tap it to start playback.
15. Pause Button: Pauses the voice note playback.
16. Playback Speed (1x Button): This one appears while playing a voice note. You can tap it to change the playback speed to 1x, 1.5x, or 2x.
17. Video Icon: This camera-shaped icon appears to the right of the contact or group name. Tap on it to start a video call with the contact.
18. Phone Icon: You can see this right next to the video call button, which lets you start a voice call with the person directly from the chat.
19. One (1) Icon: Appears when any photos, videos, or voice notes are sent as View Once. This means the media can only be opened a single time. Once the recipient views it, the file disappears from the chat and can’t be played or seen again.
20. Send Button: A paper plane shaped icon that sends your typed message.
    
21. Three Dot (Android): Appears in the top-right corner of a chat. Tap it to open more chat options like search, mute notifications, block, or clear chats at once.
    
22. Curve Arrow Icon: Used to reply to a specific message. Tap it to send your reply with the original message attached. This one appears only when you select any message.
23. Star Icon: Marks a message as important or favorite. Starred messages can be found later under Starred Messages in settings.
24. Bin Icon: Tap it to delete the selected message from the chat; It can be one or more messages.
25. Three Dot (When Selecting Message): Appears when you select a message. Tap it to see more options like share and pin.
    
    

1.3 Symbols While Sending a Voice Note to a Chat

1. Microphone Icon: Appears at the bottom-right corner of the screen. Press and hold it to start recording a voice note, and release the button to send it instantly.
   
2. Bin Icon: Shows up while recording a voice note. Slide your finger toward it to cancel and delete the recording before sending.
3. Pause and Resume Icon: You can pause a voice recording, play it back to check it, then tap Resume to continue from the same spot.
4. One (1) Icon on Voice Notes: WhatsApp lets you send voice notes as View Once, which means the recipient can play them only a single time. After that, they can’t be replayed.
   

1.4 Icons When Selecting Chats

1. Pin Icon: Tap this icon to pin the selected chat. Once pinned, the chat stays at the top of your chat list.
2. Bin Icon: This appears when you select one or more chats. Tap the bin icon to delete them, then confirm the prompt to remove the chats permanently.
3. Mute Icon: Use this to silence notifications for the selected chat. You can choose to mute it for 8 hours, 1 week, or 1 year, depending on your preference.
4. Archive Icon: Tap the icon to archive the chat. It won’t delete anything; it just moves the conversation to Archived Chats to keep your main list tidy.
5. Three Dot: This icon opens a menu with extra actions like Mark as Read, Unread, and Add to favorites.
   

Icons and Symbols on WhatsApp Calls

WhatsApp lets you place voice and video calls, not just chat. Along with the call buttons in individual and group chats, you can use the dedicated Calls tab to reach any saved contact. Understanding the icons here and on the in-call screen helps you move faster. This section explains every icon on the Calls page and during audio or video calls.

2.1 Calls Tab Icons

1. Favorite Icon: Appears at the top of the Calls tab on Android, and lets you add individual or group chats as favorites for quicker access to call them anytime.
2. QR Code Icon: Found on the Calls page on Android only. It opens the WhatsApp QR scanner, which you can use to scan any QR code and instantly make a payment if supported in your region.
3. Search Icon: Located at the top-right. Tap it to search through your call history or quickly find a contact to call.
4. Three Dot: Opens a menu with extra options like creating a new call link, accessing settings, or clearing the call log.
5. (i) Button (iPhone): Shows up next to each recent call entry on iPhone. Tap it to see info about the contact.
   
6. Video Icon: Lets you start a WhatsApp video call directly with a contact.
7. Call Icon: The regular phone icon. Tap it to start an Audio call with that contact.
   

2.2 Icons on Audio Call Screen

1. Minimize Call: This will drop off your audio call into a small window so you can use other apps while still staying on the call.
2. Add Participant Icon: It lets you add another contact (one or more) to the ongoing call.
3. Three Dot: Opens a menu with additional options during a call, like Share screen, Send message to the person you are currently talking to, and Raise Hand.
4. Video Camera Icon: Switches an audio call to a video call instantly with the same person. As soon as you tap on it, a pop-up will prompt asking if you want to switch the call.
5. Speaker Icon: Lets you switch the audio between the phone’s earpiece and the loudspeaker.
6. Mute Button: Temporarily turns off your microphone so the other person can’t hear you until you unmute.
7. Call Hang Up Icon: The red phone button is used to end the call as soon as you tap on it.
   
8. Bluetooth Icon: Indicates you’ve connected your phone to a Bluetooth device, such as headphones, earbuds, or wired earphones. This means you are listening to the call audio through a connected Bluetooth device.
   

2.3 Icons on Video Call Screen

1. Picture-in-Picture: It minimizes the video call to a small floating window that you can place anywhere on the screen, allowing you to use WhatsApp or other apps while still seeing the call.
2. Add Participant Icon: Tap it to add more contacts to the video call.
3. Flip Camera Icon: This icon switches between the front and rear cameras so you can show either yourself or your surroundings to others.
4. Effects Icon: This icon allows you to change filters, add effects, or change your background during a video call.
5. Three Dot: Opens a menu during a video call with options like Share Screen, Send Message, and Raise Hand.
6. Video Camera Icon: This button lets you turn your camera on or off during a video call. If you switch it off, the other person’s video still shows. When both cameras are off, the call becomes audio only. It’s a quick way to choose whether you want to be seen or just talk.
7. Speaker Icon: This button lets you choose where call audio plays. It uses the phone’s loudspeaker by default, but if you’re connected to Bluetooth or wired headphones, you can tap it to switch the sound to that device for private listening.
   
8. Bluetooth Icon: This icon appears when your iPhone is connected to a Bluetooth audio device like headphones or earbuds. It means the sound is playing through that connected device.
9. Mute Icon: This will turn off your mic so others can’t hear you until you unmute.
10. Call Hang Up Icon: The red phone button is used to end the video call.
    

Icons in WhatsApp Updates (Status & Channels)

The Updates tab in WhatsApp has two sections: Status and Channels. Each uses different icons and symbols. Here’s what they mean, where you’ll see them, and what happens when you tap them. If you want to make your statuses more fun, you can also read our guide on adding music to WhatsApp Status.

3.1 Icons in Status Section

1. Green Circle: Appears around a contact’s profile picture when they’ve uploaded a new status you haven’t seen yet. Tap the picture to view their status.
2. Grey Circle: Shows up around a profile picture once you’ve already viewed that person’s status.
3. Mute or Hidden Icon: If you mute someone’s status, their status moves to the muted section. When you tap it, you will see a list of status updates you have muted so far.
4. Pencil Icon: Lets you post a text status update. You can change background colors, add emojis, or style the text before uploading.
5. Camera with Plus Icon: Opens your camera so you can capture and share a photo or video directly as your status. You can also choose media from your gallery here.
6. Search Icon: You can use it to search for a specific contact’s status instead of scrolling through the list, or just find any channel.
   
7. Three Dot: It will open more options, like creating a channel or status privacy.

3.2 Icons in Channels Section

1. Three Horizontal Lines: You’ll see this icon in the Channels section after tapping Explore. Select it to choose a country, and WhatsApp will show channel suggestions based on that location.
   
2. Mute Icon: Tapping the mute icon on a channel you follow allows you to silence all its notifications.
3. Three Dot: The three-dot menu gives you additional options for a channel. From here, you can view channel info, unfollow the channel if you no longer want updates, or share the channel with others.
   

Final Words

That’s everything you need to know about WhatsApp icons and symbols. Once you understand what each one means, using WhatsApp becomes smoother and far less confusing. We hope this guide helped clear up your doubts and made your experience easier.

FAQs About WhatsApp Icons and Symbols