WhatsApp confirms 'long-awaited' upgrade is coming to your phone this month

If you love messaging on WhatsApp, there's a "long-awaited" upgrade launching on your phone this month. The meta-owned chat app has just confirmed that it is finally letting you add music to your Status, which then lets your friends and family know about your latest news, updates and how you are feeling.

For those not already aware, you can use WhatsApp Status setting to share photos and videos - along with that new addition of music - that disappear after 24 hours. You can choose who can see your status by adding them to your status audience or mentioning a specific person or group.

Once the update arrives on devices this month, you’ll see a music note icon at the top of your screen when creating a new Status. Tap it, and you’ll unlock a library of songs to pick from.

"WhatsApp Status has always been a way to share life’s moments with friends and family—but what’s a moment without the perfect soundtrack? Now, you can do exactly that by adding music to your Status updates," WhatsApp explained.

"Our library has millions of songs to choose from. Your Status is end-to-end encrypted so WhatsApp can't see what you share, and we don’t know which songs you add to your Status."

The Meta-owned firm also says that to celebrate the global release of this "long-awaited" feature, it is partnering with Ed Sheeran, making his upcoming track ‘Azizam’ available for WhatsApp users to add to their updates, alongside a vast music library with millions of songs to choose from.

This update is rolling out globally over the next few weeks and should arrive on UK devices soon.

To create a Status, simply tap Upates at the bottom of the screen and then press "Add status". Here you will see options to add photos, text or video which will then be available for people to see for 24 hours.