WhatsApp could be planning a major new update that will bring a feature they’ve been testing on iPhones to Android devices as well. The WhatsApp sleuths at WABetaInfo have once again uncovered the first details on new features that will be heading to the world’s most popular chat app. Earlier this month the WhatsApp news portal trawled through a beta release to discover the Facebook-owned chat app was working on new customisation options for WhatsApp.
At the start of August the beta version of WhatsApp for iPhones got a new setting that allowed users to individually customise each conversation or group chat.
This allowed WhatsApp users to add a different background image (entirely of their own choosing) for every conversation within the app.
Currently WhatsApp lets users change the background from the default wallpaper – but whatever they pick will be applied to every chat in the app.
Users are able to select from 39 wallpaper designs, as well as 36 solid colours or any of their own images stored on their camera roll.
But whichever option a WhatsApp user goes for it will apply to every chat.
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Thankfully, with the feature that’s in development right now WhatsApp fans will be able to choose specific wallpapers for individual chats.
So they can choose a loved-up picture of their significant other for a convo with them, or an embarrassing photo with their friends for a group chat.
This feature was previously only available for testing in the beta version of WhatsApp for iPhones, but WhatsApp are now starting to work on an Android version too.
As revealed in a post by WABetaInfo: “WhatsApp was working on new improvements for setting the wallpaper in the iOS version.
“Finally WhatsApp is starting to work on the Android version too!
“The new Wallpaper feature will allow to choose a different wallpaper based on the theme used in WhatsApp.”
The WhatsApp news portal added: “The feature will allow to choose different wallpapers for different chats, on iOS.
“Seen that WhatsApp is used to release the same features for iOS and Android, it’s possible to see this option on Android in a future build.
“This feature is under development and it will be available in future.”
It also looks like WhatsApp will be giving users the options to adjust the brightness of their wallpaper separately from their smartphone display.
This extra option will ensure a WhatsApp user’s wallpaper won’t overpower the small green chat bubbles in the app.
Speaking previously about these upcoming new WhatsApp options, WABetaInfo said: “This is a big move from WhatsApp, that never allowed to customise specific chats.
“We hope to see more similar features in future, for example the possibility to choose different auto-download settings in different chats.”