WhatsApp is testing animated stickers for Android and iPhones, currently in beta

WhatsApp has just started testing animated stickers for both Android and iPhones in beta. The new feature is available on WhatsApp v2.20.194.7 beta for Android and WhatsApp v2.20.70.26 beta for iPhone.

However, Android Police reports that while animated stickers showed up in beta v2.20.194.7 (for Android), it wasn’t there in v2.20.194.9 so if you want to try it out make sure you download the right version of the beta.

WhatsApp currently supports static stickers and besides its own stickers packs, the platform also supports stickers from third-party apps. To test the new animated stickers out you need to be on the right beta version. Animated stickers work on WhatsApp for Business as well. WABetaInfo noted that this feature is rolling out for some specific users on WhatsApp.

WABetaInfo also notes that these stickers can be divided into three parts. One, with the latest beta update some users will be able to view these stickers and be able to send, forward and star them as well. On two and three, WhatsApp does not support the ability to download or import animated stickers from third party apps yet.

So unless all these three things are live in beta, the feature is not complete.

Right now, the default sticker pack on beta has five packs - Playful Piyomaru, Rico's Sweet Life, Moody Foodies, Chummy Chum Chums and Bright Days, according to the Android Police report and also that these sticker packs are not seen unless and until someone sends a sticker from each pack.

If you are able to see and use these animated stickers, they are going to be live in the conversation though you will only see them animate once and stop. To animate them again you will need to scroll up or down.

This might change once the feature is officially released or it could also be a conscious decision taken by the developers to avoid too much on-screen movement while you are reading messages.