WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned Android chat theme picker with five categories and a separate wallpaper section.
WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned chat theme picker on Android that organizes customization into five categories, Featured, Nature, Live, Minimal, and Doodle, while moving wallpapers into a separate section of their own. The change is focused on chat personalization rather than messaging, calling, or security, and it is arriving gradually instead of landing for all users at once. For now, the new layout is reaching Android beta testers first, with some stable users also likely to see it before a broader launch.
Five chat theme categories now organize WhatsApp on Android
The main visible change is how WhatsApp now structures the theme picker on Android. Instead of treating chat themes like a flatter list of options, the app groups them into five named categories: Featured, Nature, Live, Minimal, and Doodle. That makes it faster to jump straight to a style set instead of scrolling through a single longer list.
This is a redesign of chat customization, not a change to how WhatsApp messages work. Users are getting a more organized way to browse visual styles for chats, with the categories acting as the primary navigation layer inside the picker. In practice, that should make it quicker to match different chats with distinct visual styles for clients, teams, or project threads.
Wallpaper selection gets its own path
WhatsApp is also separating wallpaper selection from full theme selection. In practice, that means users can choose a background without having to apply an entire chat theme at the same time. The wallpaper section is reorganized alongside the new category-based theme picker, giving users a cleaner split between changing the full visual treatment of a chat and changing only its background.
That separation matters if you want lighter customization control. A user can keep an existing theme style but swap the wallpaper for a different conversation, rather than treating themes and backgrounds as a single package. WhatsApp is also automatically assigning bubble colors based on the theme or wallpaper choice so chats stay readable, while still leaving manual bubble-color adjustment available for people who want finer control.
Live wallpapers and the gradual rollout
The most distinct addition in the new picker is the Live category. It includes wallpapers with subtle animation, adding motion to the background rather than just another static image option. WhatsApp marks these live wallpaper thumbnails with a badge before users apply them, so the animated options are easy to spot during browsing.
Availability is still limited. The redesigned system has been seen in Android beta build 2.26.37.6, and the rollout is happening gradually over the coming weeks rather than through a single broad release. Some stable Android users may get early access before a wider launch, but full rollout timing for all Android users is still unclear.
Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
About the author
Samarth Agrawal is an AI and technology professional who writes about WhatsApp, automation, and emerging AI trends. He focuses on simplifying complex tech updates into practical insights for businesses, creators, and everyday users
