How To: Remove Button Clutter from the WhatsApp Interface on Android

If you're one of the millions of people who use the WhatsApp service for messaging, you've probably noticed a recent propensity that the app has had for adding buttons to its interface. Two such buttons have made their way into the message thread screen, cluttering up the interface with functionality that is a tad bit redundant.

Developer jayshah decided that he'd had enough of this clutter and created an Xposed Module that removes the more redundant and intrusive buttons from the WhatsApp message view—the "Camera" and "Voice Message" buttons. Nearly-identical tools can be accessed from the "Attach" button on the very same screen, so this mod is equal parts form and function.

Prerequisites

• Rooted Nexus 5 (or any other rooted Android device)
• Xposed Framework installed
• Unknown Sources enabled

Step 1: Install Whatsapp Mods

Jayshah's module goes by the name of Whatsapp Mods, so head to the Download section of your Xposed Installer app and search it by name. Tap the top result, then swipe over to the Versions tab and hit the Download button on the most recent entry. You can also grab the module directly through this link.

The installer should automatically launch at this point, so hit Install on the next window. When that's finished, you'll get a notification from Xposed telling you that the module hasn't been activated yet and a reboot is needed. Just tap the Activate and Reboot button on this notification, and the rest will be taken care of automatically.

Step 2: Choose Your Buttons (Optional)

When your phone is done booting back up, the two buttons at the bottom of your WhatsApp message interface will be gone. If this is all you wanted, then no further setup is needed.

On the other hand, if you find yourself using one of these buttons, but not the other, you can set which button to show in the Xposed module's interface.

The module does not list its interface amongst the apps in your app drawer, so you'll have to open it through the Xposed Installer. Just head to the Modules section, then tap the Whatsapp Mods entry to begin.

In here, you can simply untick the box next to the button you'd like to show. All changes occur on the fly, so you'll only need to re-enter the message thread to get your button back.

There's also an option for enabling Debug mode in WhatsApp, but this one adds no functionality at this time.

Without those bothersome buttons in your way, you can now enjoy your favorite messaging platform a bit more. Did you remove both buttons, or leave one behind? Let us know in the comments section below.