{
  "id": 8474121,
  "title": "WhatsApp Rolls Out 5 New Chat Theme Categories",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/whatsapp-rolls-out-5-new-chat-theme-categories",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-19T14:00:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ProPakistani",
    "slug": "propakistani",
    "url": "https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/19/whatsapp-rolls-out-5-new-chat-theme-categories/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "WhatsApp has introduced five new chat theme categories for Android users, providing increased customization options for their conversations. Alongside these new themes, the messaging app also provides separate wallpaper categories. WhatsApp automatically selects bubble colors for each theme to ensure messages remain easy to read. This feature has been discovered in WhatsApp's Android beta version 2.26.37.6 and is currently being tested by some beta users. On iOS, the same theme structure is already available. The five chat theme categories are Featured, Nature, Live, Minimal, and Doodle. Featured groups selected themes from the other categories. Nature showcases wallpapers with outdoor settings like deserts, forests, mountains, and coastal landscapes. The Live category features animated wallpapers that slowly move in the background. Minimal provides simpler designs without patterns or distracting elements, while Doodle brings back the classic patterned style popular with WhatsApp's traditional wallpaper. Users can now select wallpapers independently of chat themes and choose from the same categories offered in the theme section. Additionally, WhatsApp has added Vibrant and Gradient wallpaper categories. Vibrant features brighter and more colorful backgrounds, while Gradient uses smooth transitions between colors. Users can either select an image from their gallery or create a wallpaper using AI. Animated wallpapers are present in both the chat theme and wallpaper sections. These wallpapers use slow animations to add movement without compromising readability or accessibility. WhatsApp designed the animations to be subtle to avoid affecting the reading experience. Subtle animations also display a small badge on their thumbnail to help users identify them before applying one. WhatsApp's new chat themes automatically select a message bubble color based on the chosen theme or wallpaper to maintain adequate contrast between text and background. Users are not required to manually adjust the bubble color, although they still have the option to choose a different color if desired. The new chat themes are being rolled out gradually to Android beta testers via the Google Play Store. Not every beta user will receive the updates immediately as WhatsApp is releasing the feature over the following weeks. Some users on the stable version of WhatsApp may also get access to the new themes, but WhatsApp has not announced when they will be available to everyone.",
  "summary": "WhatsApp is rolling out new chat theme categories on Android, giving users more ways to customize the appearance of their … Read More The post WhatsApp Rolls Out 5 New Chat Theme Categories appeared first on ProPakistani .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}