WhatsApp Android Beta Adds Chat Theme Categories Matching iOS

Android WhatsApp users are catching up on personalization. On September 18, 2026, WABetaInfo spotted chat theme categories rolling in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.37.6—the same structure recently shipped on iOS.

Theme categories

Themes group into Featured, Nature (deserts, forests, coasts), Live (slow animated wallpapers), Minimal, and Doodle (classic pattern vibes). Live thumbnails show a badge so you can spot motion wallpapers before applying them. Animations stay intentionally slow for readability.

Wallpapers get their own taxonomy

You can pick a wallpaper without committing to a full theme. Extra wallpaper buckets include Vibrant and Gradient, plus gallery and AI-created options. For every theme/wallpaper, WhatsApp auto-picks bubble colors for contrast—still overridable if you hate the default.

Rollout reality

Availability is gradual even inside beta. Missing categories today does not mean a broken install—server flags catch up over weeks. Some stable users may see pieces early; Meta has not published a universal GA date in the WABetaInfo report.

Rocks take

Cosmetic, but parity matters on dual-platform households. Update Play Store beta, then check chat wallpaper/theme settings. Source: WABetaInfo.

FAQ

Which build? Android beta 2.26.37.6 cited as compatible.

Is it on iOS already? Similar categories landed earlier on iOS theme updates.