The newest WhatsApp update has just been released for Android through the Google Play Beta Program, upgrading it to version 2.25.11.10.
This update includes a new feature that is now being tested with some of our users: chat message animation management. Lucky beta testers may already be seeing the new settings, which seek to give more control over animated content in chats.
Today, in this article, we will discuss the features of the new WhatsApp Beta 2.25.11.10 update in which we take control of chat animations.
New Feature: Chat Message Animations
As previously mentioned during the WhatsApp beta version 2.25.1.10 development phase, the chat message animations feature has come to be tested by the public.
Users are also able to individually control the action of which emojis, stickers, and GIFs they want to animate in their WhatsApp chat. This can greatly enhance the user experience, especially for people who don’t enjoy seeing always-running animations or animations during heavy group conversations.
A Look at the New Settings Section
Some of this beta release’s users will also see a new section within the WhatsApp settings that lets you adjust how different kinds of animated content behave in chat. These include:
- Animated Emojis
- Animated Stickers
- GIFs
There are each type with its toggle, giving more flexibility and control than an all-in-one switch.
How the New Options Work
- Lottie-based emojis: It allows users to turn off the animation of the new introduced emojis that were on a Lottie basis. This is so that when these emojis are disabled, disabled, they look static in chats and present a more minimalist, less dynamic chat view.
- Stickers: Users have the option to determine which of the stickers deployed should move automatically, including animated stickers. These stickers are turned off, so they provide little movement when in fast-paced conversations and only become active when tapped or interacted with.
- GIFs: In chats, GIF animations will not run automatically if GIFs are switched off. Rather than in motion, users will have to tap a GIF to view it. It comes in handy, especially if you want to remove visual noise or conserve mobile data.
Why Three Separate Toggles?
Somewhat surprisingly, at first, WhatsApp developers wanted to change the chat animations with a single toggle to turn everything off at once. However, through feedback and testing, it proved to be a less rigid way. By creating these three different controls combined, users are allowed to customize the chat experience.
For example, if you like GIFs but hate animated emojis, you can simply disable the emoji animation without affecting the rest. The modular way that this is set up enables people to personalize what they see in their chats based on their personal preferences.
Who Gets the Feature?
If you aren’t one of those few beta testers, the chat message animations setting is currently only available to some of them, although you are running version 2.25.11.10. It is being rolled out gradually so that not everybody will see it right away.
Some users with the previous beta version also said they saw the new animation settings, in which case a server-side rollout is probably in effect, too.
If you have the latest beta installed but still don’t have the chat animation settings, it is possible that the feature hasn’t been enabled on your account yet. The staggered rollout is also typical in beta testing so WhatsApp can monitor performance and get feedback for wider deployment.