WhatsApp will soon let you customize the color of your chat bubbles

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will add yet another future tweak to the messaging app. The cross-platform messaging service is developing a default chat theme feature that will allow users to choose from multiple color options for the background and chat bubbles that display messages in the app. The feature was spotted in development in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android, a few months after it was spotted on iOS.

Default WhatsApp Chat Theme Chooser Feature Under Development

Function tracker WABetaInfo discovers a new setting on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.17.19 that allows users to choose a default chat theme in the messaging app. Since the feature is currently in development, it cannot be tested by users who have updated to the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android.

A screenshot shared by the feature tracker shows a new Chat theme setting on WhatsApp that informs users that selecting one of the options will change both the color of the message (chat bubbles) and the background. The ability to change the colors of chat bubbles was first spotted on iOS earlier this year, along with a theme chooser.

The leaked screenshot does not reveal any of WhatsApp’s upcoming themes
Photo credit: WABetaInfo

The leaked image doesn’t show any themes, presumably because they’re still in development. However, it does contain two options to customize the two elements mentioned above. By tapping Message color And Wallpaper gives users the ability to customize their chat theme.

WhatsApp Chat Theme Chooser: How it Works

Select a theme preset or choose a chat bubble color and background in the new Chat theme menu will change the chat theme for all chats by default, according to WABetaInfo. It is likely, but unclear, whether users will also be able to select custom chat themes on a per-chat basis after setting their default chat theme.

Unlike chat themes on Facebook Messenger and Instagram, where a theme is applied to all participants in a conversation, WhatsApp will only display the selected background and chat bubble color on a user’s smartphone. Since WhatsApp generally offers similar functionality across mobile and desktop apps, we can expect to see these themes making their way to both iOS and WhatsApp’s desktop apps in the future.