How to Disable “Swipe Up to Talk” in WhatsApp Group Chats on iPhone and Android

A new feature in WhatsApp has caused confusion and frustration for many users. In recent updates, a “swipe up to talk” function has been added to group chats. When the chat is swiped upwards, a voice message can be recorded automatically. For many, this feature has been triggered by mistake — and it cannot be easily turned off in the traditional settings.

If you are wondering how to disable the “swipe up to talk” in WhatsApp group chats on iPhone or Android, this guide will explain what can be done and what limitations exist.

What Is “Swipe Up to Talk” in WhatsApp?

The “swipe up to talk” gesture allows a user to start a group voice chat by swiping upward in a group chat window. This gesture starts recording a voice message automatically. The function is similar to voice messages, but it feels more intrusive because it activates even when users are just scrolling or swiping through the chat.

This feature has been noticed only in WhatsApp group chats, and not in individual messages.

Can “Swipe Up to Talk” Be Disabled?

At the moment, there is no direct toggle in WhatsApp settings to disable just the swipe-up gesture. However, this gesture is tied to the Voice Chat feature. By turning off Voice Chat, the swipe-up-to-talk function can be effectively removed.

How to Disable Swipe-Up Voice Chat in WhatsApp (iPhone & Android) 2025

To disable this feature, follow these steps:

Open WhatsApp
- Launch the WhatsApp application on your iPhone or Android device.
Go to Settings
- Tap the Settings icon in the bottom-right corner (on iPhone) or top-right menu (on Android).
Navigate to Privacy
- In the Settings menu, tap on Privacy.
Find the Voice Chat Option
- Scroll down to locate Voice Chat (note: in some app versions, this may appear under “Groups” or “Calls”).
Disable Voice Chat
- Toggle the Voice Chat feature to Off.

Important: Once disabled, you will no longer be able to start or receive voice chats in group chats. The swipe-up-to-talk function will no longer be activated.

Known Limitations

This option may not be available in all versions of WhatsApp yet. The rollout may be gradual.
Disabling Voice Chat will affect all group chats, and may stop others from starting voice chats with you.
Users may still accidentally trigger other features if the chat is swiped too quickly.

Final Thoughts

The “swipe up to talk” issue in WhatsApp group chats has been criticized by many users for its poor usability. Until WhatsApp provides a direct way to disable this gesture without turning off voice chat entirely, the only solution is to disable the voice chat feature altogether.

If this feature has disrupted your experience, you’re not alone. Many have shared the same concern and are hoping for a better update soon.

Still seeing the issue? Make sure your WhatsApp app is updated to the latest version, as newer updates may offer improved control.