Lorene Melone
How To Adjust WhatsApp Status Layout for Vertical Display
So, if you’re trying to tweak how your WhatsApp status shows up — switching from that annoying horizontal scroll to a nice vertical stack — here’s what kinda worked for me. Not sure why it works, but messing with the followed channels seems to do the trick. On some setups, it took a couple of tries, and sometimes a re-start of the app helps. Because of course, WhatsApp has to make it harder than necessary.
Step 1: Open WhatsApp
Just open WhatsApp on your Android (or iPhone if you’re into that, but mostly for Android it’s easier). Usually, you’ll land in the chat list, ready to spam your friends or whatever.
Step 2: Access the Status Updates
Scroll all the way down or tap the Updates tab at the bottom. This is the part where you see all the weird statuses and channels you follow. If you’re stuck seeing that “horizontal scroll” thing, you’ll want to manage some channels or maybe unfollow stuff.
Step 3: Identify Followed Channels
This layout kinda shows up when you’ve followed multiple channels or groups. The only way I’ve seen to toggle it is messing with your follows. Not sure why, but seems like less is more here.
Step 4: Unfollow Channels
This is where it gets kinda tedious. Here’s what to do:
- Tap on any channel you followed — yeah, the ones making the layout horizontal.
- Look for the three-dot icon at the top right of that channel’s page.
- Tap it, then select Unfollow from the options.
Repeat for each channel you followed. Sometimes on one device it works immediately after unfollowing the last one, on another… not so much. You might have to restart your app or clear cache (clear app cache) to see the change.
Step 5: Confirm the Change
After dumping all those channels, go back to Updates. The layout should now be vertical instead of sliding sideways. That’s it. Enjoy the new look.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
For starters, if you unfollow a channel and it didn’t switch the layout, try closing the app completely (Recents Swipe Up or App Switcher) and opening it again. Sometimes, that refreshes the UI faster than waiting.
Also, if you accidentally unfollowed a channel you want back, just search for it again in the Updates tab. It’s pretty quick.
And for those who wanna keep their interface tidy—manage your followed channels kind of regularly. Less clutter, less weird layouts.
Conclusion
This whole thing isn’t spelled out anywhere official, but playing with your follows seems to be the workaround to switch between horizontal and vertical status displays. If this gets one update moving, mission accomplished. It’s kinda hidden, but it works — most of the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I revert back to the horizontal layout after switching to vertical?
Yup, just follow more channels, unfollow others, and the layout flips back. It’s basically toggle-based, but not documented anywhere.
What if nothing changes after unfollowing channels?
Try restarting WhatsApp or clearing its cache (here’s how). Sometimes the app just doesn’t refresh right away.
Any other tricks to customize WhatsApp statuses?
Absolutely. You can add images, videos, or text. So, don’t just leave it as plain text — pimp it up inside the status section. Also, explore hidden settings in WhatsApp’s menu for more options.
Summary
- Managed your followed channels to tweak the layout
- Unfollowed channels to switch from horizontal to vertical
- Restarted app or cleared cache if changes stuck
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck, and don’t forget to back up your chats before messing around with settings that aren’t officially documented. Just something that worked on multiple machines.