WA FoldersHow to find where you were mentioned in a WhatsApp group
If someone tagged you in a busy WhatsApp group and the notification is gone, look for the small @ next to that group in your chats list. WhatsApp shows it on unread chats where you were mentioned or where someone replied to one of your messages, and you'll see those messages when you open the chat. Once you've opened the chat, that marker goes away, and finding the message again gets harder. WhatsApp is now testing a fix for that on Android.
The new Mentions and replies filter
WABetaInfo reported on October 24, 2026 that WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.42.12 adds a filter to the Chats tab, next to the existing Unread, Favorites and Groups filters. Tapping it shows only the group chats where someone mentioned you or replied to your message. According to that report:
- It covers community groups as well as regular groups.
- It carries a badge with the number of chats that still have pending mentions or replies.
- When nothing is pending, it shows an empty screen with a link back to the full list.
- It's added automatically, but you can switch it off in settings or move it into the "More" section of the filter bar.
The difference from the @ marker and notifications is that the filter stays put. Notifications clear as soon as you open the app. The filter still lists the chat after you've cleared everything, until you deal with the mention.
It's only in the Android beta for now, and only some testers have it. WhatsApp hasn't said when it will reach everyone, and WABetaInfo gives no word on iPhone or WhatsApp Web. If you're on the Android beta and don't see it, update from the Play Store and give it a few weeks.
Find a mention today, on any version
Until the filter reaches you, these methods work in the regular app.
1. Check the @ before you open the chat
In your chats list, an unread group with an @ next to it has a mention or a reply waiting for you. The WhatsApp Help Center says the marker covers both. If you're scanning a long list, the Unread filter at the top of the Chats tab cuts it down to the chats where the @ can appear.
2. Search the group for your number
Once the @ is gone, search inside the group. On Android, open the group, tap the three-dot menu and choose Search. On iPhone, tap the group name and then Search. On WhatsApp Web, open the group and click the magnifying glass at the top of the chat.
A tip that comes up on r/whatsapp is to type @ followed by your full number with the country code and no spaces or plus sign, for example @15551234567 for a US number. Results aren't consistent across phones and versions, so if nothing turns up, try the next method before you decide there's no mention.
3. Search for your name, in every form people use
A popular r/LifeProTips post suggests searching a busy group for your own name instead of scrolling. Search the name people actually call you, and also a nickname or a short form. When someone types @ and picks you from the list, other members see you under whatever name they saved you as, so the text in a message can vary.
4. Find replies to your messages
Replies are harder to search, because the reply's text doesn't contain your name. Open the group and scroll to your own last message. Replies to it show a small quoted copy of your message above the new text, and tapping that quote jumps back to the original. If you're often asked follow-up questions, star the reply when you see it (long-press, then the star) so it's in Starred messages later.
Muted groups still reach you through mentions
Many people mute big groups and assume they'll miss everything. According to the WhatsApp Help Center, a mention overrides the mute you set for the group, unless you've also muted @all mentions. So a direct @ to you still notifies you in a muted group, while an @all announcement only does if you haven't silenced those. If you want fewer pings from a group without missing tags meant for you, mute the group and turn off @all mentions, and keep personal mentions on.
If you run a large group
In big communities a mention can scroll out of sight in minutes, which is the case WABetaInfo says the filter is built for. If you're an admin who gets tagged with questions, reply in a thread with WhatsApp's reply feature rather than a new message, so the person who asked gets the @ marker and, once it ships, an entry in their Mentions and replies filter.