Tech Desk 
Aug 10, 2025
WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow Android users to send motion photos, offering advanced usage experience on WhatsApp.
WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp feature tracker, claimed that the new feature was spotted in the latest beta version of WhatsApp and might be available to some beta testers.
According to WABetaInfo, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform is testing support for motion photos, aiming to provide another end-to-end encrypted feature which will advance the user experience on the app.
WhatsApp to introduce support for motion photos.
Motion photos will be denoted by a new icon with a play button surrounded by a ring with a small circle. This icon will be displayed on the image selection interface, where users can choose images from their gallery to send to another user or a group.
Notably, the new icon is visible in the top right corner, and tapping it will allow users to send an image as a motion photo. WhatsApp describes motion photos as “a recording of the moments before & after a photo was taken.”
Notably, motion photos are a feature available on many Android smartphones. Samsung ships this capability as Motion Photos, while Google ships it in Pixel smartphones as Top Shot.
It is worth noting that once this feature is rolled out to all users, it will eliminate the issue where sending motion photos would convert them into video files.
To note, WhatsApp is constantly adding new features, but recently, a change to the messaging app was more obvious
However, WhatsApp has yet to make any official statement on the launch of motion photos.
