Introduction
WhatsApp, the most downloaded and used instant messaging software around the globe, consistently makes changes for better usability and protection of users. One such feature that users are often interested in is the whatsApp green circle. But what is this green circle meant to represent? In this post, we are going to discuss the meaning of the WhatsApp green circle, its importance, how to alter it, and why it appears on your profile picture or status updates.
What does the green circle on WhatsApp mean?
If you are someone who’s actively using the app, then you may have noticed that whenever you update your profile picture or your status, there comes a time when a green circle appears, and the profile picture’s borders change. This new icon seems to hang a lot of users along the balance. Many users wonder what this green circle on WhatsApp is for. The WhatsApp green circle is part of the app’s status feature, in this case notifying the contacts that the user has uploaded a new status. It’s essentially a means of notification when a user posts a new WhatsApp status.
WhatsApp Green Circle around Profile Picture
The Green Circle which occurs around your profile photo means one of your contacts has updated their WhatsApp status usually. If you have set a status on WhatsApp, this circle will appear around your profile photo for your contacts to see. This feature is just one of those that are intended to let others know that you have been active on the platform and there is something newsworthy that you would want to share.
WhatsApp Green Circle in Status
The green circle in the status in WhatsApp makes reference to a contact’s profile photo, specifically to a green ring that is around the photo if the individual has ever posted an update. Most likely, you have seen this icon located next to one’s contact name under ‘Status’. In other words, the green circle in WhatsApp means a new status update has been uploaded where the user has changed either the image, text, or even the video.
To sum it up, when someone has shared their status on their WhatsApp account, the green circle shows up around their name and this is merely a notification sign that someone has shared the status with you. It does not necessarily indicate any particular privacy settings or alteration of the WhatsApp application.
Why Does a Green Circle Show on WhatsApp?
There are a few situations when you will notice the green circle in WhatsApp:
1. The Status Change
The green circle shows when a person changes their status in WhatsApp. This indicates that the circle does not have anything to do with any active chat, or any message, but changes to the status. The green circle will like the message icon for unread messages disappear once you view the said status.
2. Online Contact on WhatsApp
When there is a green circle surrounding the profile picture of a contact in the contact list, more to say the person is currently online on WhatsApp or active in WhatsApp. WhatsApp may use this green circle to mean that some people are around and possibly free to engage in a conversation. This in essence means that the green circle can be an easy way of visually assessing whether a person is currently online.
3. Alternately, a Circular Button May Appear Next to the Name
Sometimes, the green circle appears in order to serve as a notification for users to check their WhatsApp status before the specified time limit set by the user. A WhatsApp status lasts for 24 hours and when a Waa user does not check an update then the green circle will hold until the time limit is reached or the status is checked.
Understanding and Managing the WhatsApp Green Circle
1. Removing the Green Circle from Your Profile
If you do not want to show the green circle around your profile picture whenever you update your status, you can do so by changing your privacy. Follow these steps to learn how:
- Go to “Settings” after launching the app.
- Select Privacy.
- Under the Status section, select My Contacts or My Contacts Except to set limits on who can see your status. If you do not want anyone to see your updates, select Only Share With.
This means that when a status update is shared, contacts who do not have permission to view the update will not have the green circle surrounding their profile picture.
2. Muting A Green Circle on Other People’s Profiles
In cases when you decide that a person’s WhatsApp profile has the annoying green circle, you can always just mute their status, here is how:
- Launch the Status tab.
- Press and hold a contact’s status.
- Tap the option that states Mute.
Using this technique will discard the green circle being displayed whenever that person’s profile picture is updated, since, you will be muting them.
3. Troubleshooting the Green Circle
At times, WhatsApp users report an issue whereby even after viewing a status, the green circle does not go away, which indicates unsolved issues. The following possible solutions might be of help:
- Clear Cache: If you are using Android, you can clear the app cache for this to work.
- Update the App: This can help, without updating WhatsApp, it may persist, as older versions are known to bug.
- Restart the App: Green circle is what they refer it. In conjunction with a general app re-start, such occasional display bugs can be resolved with this fix.
Common Questions
What is the Eco-Magic with Green Circle on a WhatsApp Profile Picture?
A green circle formation around the WhatsApp profile picture serves as a green indicator light that signals, ‘Hey I’ve been active and available recently and I am in a position to give you a status mark’. It acts like a nagging notification to contacts to change their sluggish ways and view the updated status.
Can I Take Off the Green Circle from My Profile?
Yes, the green circle can only be disabled by going to privacy settings under the status updates options and can only be done manually. It is possible to restrict who can view your status and that would effectively remove the Green Circle from the viewers who cannot see your updates.
Why Does the Green Circle Appear on WhatsApp?
The green circle on WhatsApp appears whenever you make a new status update. It is a reminder for other WhatsApp users to check the content that has been posted.
How Do I Stop Seeing the Green Circle around Someone’s Profile Picture?
When someone posts a status update, and you do not wish to see the green circle around their profile, you can choose to mute the person’s status. As a result, the green circle will not be there as you will not be alerted to any changes made to their status.
Conclusion
It is true that the green circle of WhatsApp can be a bit more useful than it appears to be since it is meant to be an alert as to when there has been an update to the status. Be it your profile picture or someone else’s, if there is a green circle around it, an update has been made. If you are not a fan of the feature, WhatsApp does allow the thing to be managed or even hidden in the privacy controls.
Once you know what the WhatsApp Green circle is and how it works, you have the power to decide how visible your status will be and when notifications of your status should be shown. While posting your statuses or watching your friends’ statuses, this feature makes the app dynamic and exciting.