Participating in beta programs can be an exciting way to access new features ahead of the general public. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the primary purpose of beta testing is to assist developers in identifying and resolving bugs. This means that there are inherent risks involved in joining a beta program. Recently, WhatsApp beta users have been reminded of these risks, as a new beta version has rendered the app inoperable.
Users running WhatsApp beta version 2.24.24.5 are encountering a significant issue where the app displays a solid green screen. This isn’t just a minor tint; the entire interface is obscured by a uniform green block, making it impossible to use the app. The problem seems to occur when users attempt to open any chat.
According to Android Police, one of their writers experienced this issue while testing, though they couldn’t replicate it consistently. They did encounter a related problem where the app crashed on startup after multiple attempts.
Fortunately, this issue appears to be specific to beta version 2.24.24.5. If you’re using the latest stable version of WhatsApp, you shouldn’t face this problem. For those affected, the immediate solution is to downgrade to an earlier version, though this can be challenging since WhatsApp betas are distributed as app bundles rather than standard APK files.
Given the number of reports regarding this issue, it’s likely that the developers are already aware and working on a fix, which should be released soon.