WhatsApp Getting Animated Stickers, QR Codes, Group Video Call Improvements
Animated stickers have been available in Telegram and Gboard for a long while, but WhatsApp has only supported static sticker images so far. Be it through the app’s few included packs or downloadable third-party packs from the Play Store, you got still image stickers. That’s changing now in WhatsApp beta, as the app is introducing animated sticker support.
Whatsapp Animated Stickers & QR Code Features 2020
The feature first showed up on June 22, in beta v2.20.194.7 and then disappeared the same day in v2.20.194.9. It’s now live in v2.20.195.2 beta (APK Mirror) and seems to be here to stay. Just click on the emoji button in the text box, select the sticker panel at the bottom, then tap the plus button to add new stickers. You’ll find the first animated pack, Playful Piyomaru, among the regular non-animated packs you can download. If you expand it, you can see all included stickers and preview them by tapping any of them.
WhatsApp has been working on animated stickers for quite some time. The support for animated stickers was spotted in WhatsApp v2.20.194.7 beta for Android and WhatsApp v2.20.70.26 beta for iOS.
Whatsapp QR Code Feature
WhatsApp also announced the talked about QR codes feature for users. With this feature, the messaging platform is making it easier for users to add new contacts. The feature will be available in the coming week. To add contact using QR code all your need to do is scan their QR code to add them to your contacts and you will be good to go.
Earlier this year WhatsApp launched dark mode for mobile app. The platform now brings a dark theme for web users. This feature comes at the right time when users are working from home and are using WhatsApp on their desktop more than ever before. The feature will be available for all users in the weeks to come.