Beta programs offer an excellent opportunity to get early access to upcoming features, providing users with a sneak peek at new updates. However, participating in beta testing comes with inherent risks, as the primary purpose is to help developers identify and resolve potential bugs. A recent issue faced by WhatsApp beta users serves as a stark reminder of these risks, as the latest beta version has rendered the app unusable for some participants.
Users running WhatsApp beta version 2.24.24.5 have reported encountering a perplexing green screen problem. This isn’t a minor issue like a green tint overlaying the screen; instead, the app displays a completely green, featureless screen, effectively blocking access to any functionality. The bug seems to occur when attempting to open a chat, making the app entirely nonfunctional.
Android Police has confirmed that one of their team members also experienced this issue. Although they tried to replicate the bug, they were unable to do so consistently. Instead, they encountered a related problem where the app repeatedly crashed upon launch, despite multiple attempts to restart it.
Fortunately, it seems that this problem is limited to beta version 2.24.24.5. Users operating the latest stable version of WhatsApp remain unaffected. For those dealing with the green screen issue, the most practical solution is to downgrade to an earlier beta version. However, this process can be challenging because WhatsApp distributes beta updates as app bundles rather than conventional APK files, complicating the rollback procedure.
The development team is probably already aware of the issue, considering the number of reports from impacted customers. If so, a fix should be on its way soon. While such glitches can be frustrating, they underscore the purpose of beta testing: identifying and addressing issues before features reach the broader user base. If you rely heavily on WhatsApp for communication, it’s worth considering whether the risks of beta testing outweigh the excitement of accessing new features early.