WhatsApp is working on new chat customization options that will bring animated wallpapers to conversations on iPhone and Android, giving users more ways to change how individual chats look without making the background too distracting.
The latest WhatsApp beta for iOS includes references to three new theme categories called Featured, Doodle, and Minimal, with each category offering a different visual style for chat backgrounds and message bubbles.
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WABetaInfo spotted the changes in the latest WhatsApp build available through TestFlight, after similar references also appeared in a recent beta version for Android.
The Doodle category will use wallpapers based on WhatsApp’s familiar doodle pattern, while Minimal will offer simple white or black backgrounds that match the phone’s light or dark mode setting.
Featured themes will add subtle animated wallpapers
The Featured category will introduce animated wallpapers that move slowly in the background, with WhatsApp reportedly choosing gentle animations so users can still focus on messages while keeping the chat interface more dynamic.
The animations will remain gradual rather than fast or distracting, which should also make the feature more comfortable for users who prefer less movement on screen.
WhatsApp is also changing how chat bubble colors work with these themes, as the app will automatically select matching bubble colors based on the chosen wallpaper instead of offering separate controls for each element.
The new customization options remain under development and are not yet available to beta testers, although WhatsApp is now working on the feature across both iOS and Android, suggesting testing could expand in a future beta release before a wider rollout.
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