Tech Desk 
Jan 04, 2025
WhatsApp is gearing up to introduce a new feature to manage the autoplay of animated photos. This feature will allow users to disable animations for emojis, stickers, and avatars directly from the app settings.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature offers enhanced control over the chat experience. The app is exploring the integration of functionality that lets users manage specific animations within their groups and chats. This development aims to provide users with a more tailored and free communication experience.
Moreover, it offers control over which messages should be animated, in contrast to the previous feature in development, where all animations were uniformly enabled.
With this update, users will be able to manage animations for emojis, stickers, and GIFs separately through three distinct options in settings. This will enable users to customise their chat experience and minimise distractions.
In the case of emojis, the feature applies to the latest animated emojis, which will appear stationary if the autoplay option is disabled. Similarly, animated stickers will remain static unless users engage with them.
The same rule applies to GIFs, which will remain stationary until manually played by the users themselves. This ensures users can control when animations occur, avoiding unnecessary interruptions during chats.
The chat animation feature in WhatsApp is likely to be rolled out in the near future, offering users a variety of customisation options and an enhanced overall experience.
