WhatsApp’s New Chat Themes Are Rolling Out on Android Beta: What’s New and Who Gets Them

WhatsApp is testing a significantly expanded chat-theme picker on Android. The change is rolling out to some users on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.37.6, adding organized theme categories, new wallpaper groups and animated “Live” options on top of the chat customization system WhatsApp already offers.

This is a limited beta rollout, not a global stable release. If your app does not show the new categories yet, that does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your phone or account.

What is new in the Android beta?

WABetaInfo reports that the redesigned picker groups presets into five main chat-theme categories:

• Featured — a curated selection of prominent theme combinations.
• Nature — nature-inspired visual styles.
• Live — animated wallpapers with intentionally slow movement.
• Minimal — cleaner, simpler background and color combinations.
• Doodle — more playful illustrated styles.

The wallpaper selector also includes additional groups such as Vibrant and Gradient. Users can still choose an image from their gallery, and supported accounts can use Meta AI to create a wallpaper.

Live themes add animation without turning chats into a video background

The most noticeable addition is the Live category. WABetaInfo describes these as animated wallpapers designed with slow motion rather than constant fast movement. Live options are marked so users can distinguish them from static themes before applying one.

WhatsApp also automatically pairs chat-bubble colors with a selected theme to keep text readable. That automatic choice is not permanent: users can override the bubble color if they prefer a different combination.

How WhatsApp chat themes already work

WhatsApp officially introduced chat themes in 2025. Its current Help Center explains that Android users can customize both the wallpaper and chat-bubble color globally or for an individual conversation.

For all chats on Android, WhatsApp’s current path is:

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Tap the three-dot menu and open Settings.
3. Open Appearance.
4. Tap Default chat theme.
5. Select the theme, wallpaper and chat-bubble color you want.

For one conversation, open that chat, use the three-dot menu, then choose Chat theme. WhatsApp has previously stated that your chat-theme choice is visible only to you; the new beta report does not indicate that this privacy behavior has changed.

Who gets the new categorized themes?

As of September 18, 2026, WABetaInfo says the new interface is being enabled for some beta testers on version 2.26.37.6 and should reach more beta accounts over the coming weeks. It also notes that some stable-channel users can receive server-side feature access, but there is no announced date when every Android user will get this exact theme layout.

That server-side component is important. Two phones running the same WhatsApp build can temporarily show different theme options because WhatsApp regularly rolls out experimental features by account.

What to do if the new WhatsApp themes are not showing

• Update WhatsApp through Google Play.
• If you are already in the official beta program, confirm that your installed build is current.
• Open Settings → Appearance → Default chat theme and check whether the categorized picker has appeared.
• Restart WhatsApp after updating.
• If the categories are still missing, wait for the account-side rollout instead of repeatedly reinstalling the app.
• Avoid unofficial or modified WhatsApp APKs simply to obtain a cosmetic beta feature.

Are AI-generated themes part of this update?

AI-generated themes are not brand-new to this beta. WhatsApp’s official Help Center already documents the ability to create AI-generated chat themes and wallpapers through Meta AI where that capability is available. Meta AI availability still varies by country and account, so the “Create with AI” option may be missing even when ordinary theme controls are present.

Why the update matters

The practical improvement is organization. WhatsApp already had presets, custom colors and wallpapers; grouping a growing library into recognizable categories makes the feature easier to browse. The Live category also gives WhatsApp a more dynamic visual option without changing how messages themselves work.

If you use Android heavily for messaging and notifications, our guide on controlling distracting Android notifications without missing important alerts can help with the other side of chat customization: deciding when those conversations are allowed to interrupt you.

Sources

• WABetaInfo — WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.37.6 theme rollout
• WhatsApp Help Center — change your app or chat theme
• WhatsApp Blog — original chat themes announcement

Featured image: “Whatsapp texting” by Helar Lukats via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Imported into the SSM Apps media library for editorial illustration; no AI generation.