WhatsApp is testing sticker reactions for messages

WhatsApp is testing a new way to react to messages: stickers instead of only standard emoji reactions. The update is still under development, and the rollout path is not yet settled.

Sticker reactions enter WhatsApp testing

On the messaging side, the test replaces the familiar emoji-only reaction bar with sticker support. In practical terms, that means a user would react to a message with a sticker, not just a thumbs-up, heart, or other standard emoji.

Stickers have long been part of the app’s chat culture, and the new test applies that behavior directly to message reactions. A screenshot tied to the test shows a long-press workflow that opens the most-used emoji bar, with stickers available to customize that set.

That still leaves the core idea straightforward: instead of limiting reactions to basic emoji, WhatsApp is trying out a sticker-based response for chats.

Status gets a separate reaction-layer update

A separate update is also moving around Status, where WhatsApp is working on status stickers and celebratory emoji animations. In that setup, users can place expressive stickers on status updates and trigger festive confetti-style effects.

That affects Status posts, while the message-reaction test affects chats. The feature adds another way to respond or decorate content inside the app, but it does not alter how normal chats work.

For now, the Status material should be treated as adjacent to the message-reaction test, not automatically the same feature. The two changes are both reaction-focused, but the available details do not confirm that they are one unified update.

Rollout scope and access are still unsettled

WhatsApp has not broadly released the sticker reaction test. The feature is still in beta development, and availability to users remains unclear.

Platform scope is also not fully pinned down. One version of the test is tied to Android beta builds, while the broader access picture, including whether the same behavior is arriving on iOS, or on both platforms, is still uncertain.

Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only.