WhatsApp Beta Adds Support For Motion Photos On Android

WhatsApp has introduced support for motion photos on Android, similar to Apple’s Live Photos feature. Many Android smartphones already allow users to capture images with movement, and now, WhatsApp is integrating compatibility for these files in its latest beta release.

According to information from WABetaInfo, the update is part of version 2.25.22.29, which was made available on the Google Play Store over the past weekend. With this feature, users can share moving photos in individual chats, group conversations, and even channels.

When the feature is active, WhatsApp will notify users that moving photo support has been enabled on the platform. However, if preferred, users can choose to convert such a photo into a completely static image before sending it, which may help save mobile data.

Once a moving photo is sent, it will display a small icon in the top-left corner of its thumbnail within the chat interface. This visual marker makes it easy to distinguish between standard static images and those containing movement and sound, ensuring recipients can immediately identify interactive content.

Currently, this feature is only available to WhatsApp’s beta testers on Android, meaning public access is limited for the moment. Nevertheless, given WhatsApp’s track record with such features, the moving photo functionality is likely to roll out to the general user base in the near future.

The update brings to Android users a richer media-sharing experience, making WhatsApp more competitive with other messaging platforms that already support moving images. The addition of optional static conversion also demonstrates consideration for users who wish to manage data usage more efficiently.

Filed in Cellphones. Read more about Android, Beta and Whatsapp.