WhatsApp Has Developed Shared Chat Themes
The platform is testing synchronization for wallpapers and bubble colors in its latest iOS beta release.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Internet
Live Poll
Would you choose to synchronize your chat themes with friends if the option were available?
WhatsApp has introduced a feature for synchronizing chat themes, including wallpapers and bubble colors, within its latest iOS beta version. The functionality is currently under development and exists only as research-stage code.
Why it matters
The development marks an effort to add collaborative personalization to the messaging platform by allowing users to share aesthetic settings across conversations. It relies on the existing messaging infrastructure while expanding the scope of user-controllable display parameters.
The feature appeared in WhatsApp iOS beta version 26.37.10.16, which supports custom wallpaper selection from a device photo library. WhatsApp is also testing 5 distinct theme categories for its Android platform rollout.
The players
A meta-owned cross-platform messaging service that uses the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encrypted communication.
The details
The mechanism allows users to select whether to synchronize a theme or restrict it to their own device view. When a shared theme is applied, the system generates a message to notify participants of the change. All theme data is expected to be protected by end-to-end encryption—a method where only the communicating users can read the messages—to maintain user privacy during the exchange of custom visuals.
Timeline
September 21, 2026: The feature was identified in the latest iOS beta.
The Tech Race
This development follows a trend of increasing platform-level customization in major messaging ecosystems. It represents a push to compete with features found in rival encrypted messaging apps that prioritize aesthetic flexibility.
The feature is currently accessible only to users enrolled in the TestFlight beta platform for iOS. A public release date has not been announced, meaning the ability to synchronize themes across chats is not yet available to the general user base.
The takeaway
Users can expect this feature to eventually allow for standardized shared aesthetics within private conversations. Watch for official updates in future beta release notes regarding the expansion of theme categories.
Further reading
For more on the current state of messaging architecture, see Internet.
Live Poll
Would you choose to synchronize your chat themes with friends if the option were available?
