Anyone looking for a bit more pop in their WhatsApp can now change both the colour of the speech bubbles as well as the background image. There's a benefit to having different themes in different chats. — Photo: Franziska Gabbert/dpa
BERLIN: After years of forcing all users to message in the same old green speech bubbles, WhatsApp is now opening up its interface to new chat themes that can be customised.
WhatsApp already allowed users to set an individual background photo for chats, but only now can you also set the colour of speech bubbles that display the chat messages.
You can either choose from new chat themes that are already fully configured with their own matching background or you can determine the colours for the speech bubbles and the backgrounds yourself.
One benefit to choosing individual colours and backgrounds for certain chats is that it makes you less likely to accidentally send a message to the wrong contact or group chat. If you associate, say, green with family, then you're less likely to post a private message in a group work chat that has a purple theme.
A total of 30 new stock background options are available, but you can also use your own photos.
You can also set one bespoke design globally for all chats. If preferred, you can also design each individual chat or group chat differently.
In any case, the design changes are only visible to you, and not to other contacts.
Here's how to change your chat theme:
- Global: To set up a design for all chats and channels, navigate to Settings/Chats/Default chat theme.
- Specific: To customise a chat individually, tap the name of the respective chat at the top on iOS. On Android, tap the three-dot menu and select "Chat theme".
Please note: According to Meta, the new features will only be introduced gradually. It may take a few weeks before they are available to all users and on all devices. – dpa
