WhatsApp Tests New Chat Themes and Animated Wallpapers on Android

WhatsApp is reportedly testing new chat themes for Android that could give users more ways to customise the appearance of their conversations. The feature is currently being rolled out to a limited number of Android beta testers.

According to WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp latest update is being tested in Android beta version 2.26.37.6. The redesigned experience could introduce four chat theme categories: Nature, Live, Minimal and Doodle, along with a separate section for wallpapers. The new WhatsApp chat themes could make it easier to personalize individual conversations. A Featured section may also highlight selected designs from different categories.

The Nature category could include wallpapers featuring forests, mountains, deserts and coastal landscapes. Minimal is expected to offer simpler backgrounds, while Doodle could use WhatsApp's familiar doodle-style artwork. The Live category may include animated wallpapers with subtle moving backgrounds. These wallpapers could display a small badge on their previews to help users distinguish them from static options.

WhatsApp could also automatically select a chat bubble colour based on the chosen theme and wallpaper. The suggested colour would be designed to keep messages easy to read, although users may still have the option to adjust the bubble colour manually.

The reported update could also separate WhatsApp wallpapers from complete chat themes. This would allow users to change only the conversation background without altering the rest of the chat's appearance. The wallpaper section could include the Nature, Live, Minimal and Doodle categories, along with new Vibrant and Gradient options. Users may also be able to choose images directly from their phone's gallery. Another potentially interesting addition is AI-generated wallpapers, which could allow users to create customized backgrounds using artificial intelligence.

The new chat theme feature is currently being tested with a limited group of WhatsApp Android beta users. Since the rollout is gradual, even some beta testers may not see the feature immediately.

Some users on the stable version could also receive individual features as WhatsApp expands testing, but the company has not confirmed when the complete set of WhatsApp chat customization options will become available to everyone. For now, Android users will have to wait for a wider rollout to access the new themes, animated wallpapers and other customization features.

This article is based on information from Gadgets 360