WhatsApp for iPhone gets a new feature

Meta has announced the rollout of a new feature in the WhatsApp app for iOS users. The app now supports Live Photo — animated pictures that come to life when viewed. This was reported by 9to5Mac.

The feature allows users to send and receive photos that animate for a few seconds, mimicking the behavior of Live Photo in the standard iOS gallery. Such images display a special indicator in the top-left corner, and when pressed, the sound recorded at the moment of capture is played.

When to Expect It?

Live Photo support is currently being gradually rolled out. Some iOS users report that they are already able to receive animated photos, but sending them is not yet available to everyone. Meta continues to work on the full implementation of the feature.

Other Updates

In addition to Live Photo support, Meta has introduced a number of other updates for WhatsApp:

• Personalized chat themes: With the help of Meta AI, users can create unique themes for their conversations.
• New stickers: The app now includes sticker packs such as Fearless Bird and Vacation.
• Improved group search: It is now enough to find one group member in your chat list to see all the groups you share with them.
• Features for Android: Android users can now scan, crop, and send documents directly from the app. Meta AI also enables the creation of unique backgrounds for video calls as well as for photos and videos taken in chats.

In Short...

WhatsApp for iOS now supports Live Photo, allowing users to share animated pictures with motion and sound. Other new additions include personalized themes, new stickers, improved group search, and Android-exclusive features such as document handling and AI-generated backgrounds. The rollout of Live Photo is ongoing, and some users are still limited in sending such photos.