WhatsApp is reportedly developing new chat themes with animated wallpapers for iPhone users. The feature was spotted in the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS and appears to build on similar customization options already discovered on Android. However, there’s an important catch: the feature is still under development and isn’t available to beta testers yet.
If released, the new themes could give WhatsApp chats a more dynamic look while keeping the animations subtle enough that they don’t distract from conversations.
WhatsApp is adding subtle animations to chat themes
According to WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta available through TestFlight includes revamped chat themes organized into three categories: Featured, Doodle, and Minimal. The setup is similar to the chat customization options recently spotted in a WhatsApp beta for Android.
The Featured category is where things get more interesting. It’s expected to include wallpapers with subtle animations, giving WhatsApp conversations a sense of movement without turning every chat into a visual distraction.
Fast-moving backgrounds might look impressive in a product demo, but they could quickly become annoying when you’re trying to read a long conversation. WhatsApp’s reported approach instead uses slow, gradual animations designed to add some personality to chats while keeping messages at the center of attention.
The Doodle category will reportedly build on WhatsApp’s familiar doodle-style artwork, while Minimal will offer cleaner and simpler backgrounds. These are expected to include solid white and black options that automatically adapt depending on whether the iPhone is using light or dark mode.
Chat bubble colors could change automatically
WhatsApp is also reportedly linking chat bubble colors to individual themes. Instead of requiring users to manually choose a bubble color that matches their wallpaper, WhatsApp would automatically select a complementary color combination for each theme.
That may sound like a small detail, but it could make the entire customization experience feel much more polished. Users could simply choose a theme and get a coordinated combination of wallpaper, animation, and chat bubble colors without adjusting each visual element separately.
WhatsApp has also been experimenting with other interface animations on iPhone. A previous beta update reintroduced message animations on iOS along with a dedicated setting for controlling them.
Taken together, these changes suggest WhatsApp is moving toward more complete visual customization packages rather than treating wallpapers, bubble colors, and animations as separate options.
When will WhatsApp animated wallpapers launch?
There’s no confirmed release date for animated chat wallpapers yet. WhatsApp is still developing the feature and hasn’t announced when the revamped chat themes will become available to beta testers or roll out to everyone.
The fact that similar customization features have now been spotted on both iOS and Android suggests WhatsApp is working toward a more consistent visual experience across the two platforms.
However, features discovered during beta development can still change significantly before release, and WhatsApp could modify or remove some of these options before they reach the stable app.
Would you use animated wallpapers in your WhatsApp chats, or do you prefer keeping your conversations simple? Let us know in the comments below.
