WhatsApp is testing a new feature to make changing numbers much less painful

It addresses one of the messaging app's most annoying shortcomings

WhatsApp is also trialling a revoke option that lets you ‘unsend’ a sent message (STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

WhatsApp has started testing a new feature designed to take some of the hassle out of changing your contact details.

The messaging app could soon automatically tell everybody in your address book that you’ve changed your phone number, which should save you a little bit of time and stress.

The feature has been spotted on the beta version of WhatsApp for Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile, by @WABetaInfo.

Change Number lets you either share your new number with all of your contacts, just the ones you have WhatsApp conversations with or none of your contacts at all.

However, regardless of which option you choose, it will automatically alert any group chats you’re a part of to your new number, so you don’t have to go through the pain of asking a friend to tell the group’s admin to add your new number and remove your old one.

There's no guarantee that beta features will come to the full version of the app, but Change Number addresses one of WhatsApp's most irritating shortcomings.

If feedback from the trial proves positive, there's little reason it shouldn't be rolled out more widely.

WhatsApp’s existing New Broadcast feature lets you quickly and easily tell your contacts about a number change, but not many users are aware of it.

New Broadcast lies in the app’s main menu, and lets you send the same message to lots of your contacts without lumping them all into one group, in a similar manner to the BCC option on email.

WhatsApp is also trialling a revoke option that lets you ‘unsend’ a sent message within a five-minute window, as well as handy new shortcuts for formatting messages.