WhatsApp Is Working on Sticker Suggestions
According to WABetaInfo which specializes in software reverse engineering, this new capability is being tested with Android and iOS customers who participate in the WhatsApp beta program. The feature is currently unavailable to the public.
The work-in-progress feature is currently limited to WhatsApp’s own sticker packs.
However, it looks like the sticker recommendation feature might eventually work with third-party sticker packs that can be found in WhatsApp’s sticker store as well.
Does This Work With Third-Party Stickers?
Having reached out to the makers of the Sticker Maker app, the site learned that an upcoming update will support WhatsApp’s new feature. WABetaInfo shared a video, embedded ahead, showing how sticker suggestions currently work in the WhatsApp beta.
WhatsApp frequently tests new features before making them more widely available. But just because a feature is in testing doesn’t mean it will see the light of day, so keep that in mind.
All told, this new capability for WhatsApp users on iOS and Android should work in a similar fashion to the tap-to-emojify feature present in Apple’s Messages app.
How to Use WhatsApp Sticker Suggestions
As outlined by WABetaInfo, sticker suggestions will appear as you’re typing words in the chat bar. If a typed word matches any particular stickers that you have added to WhatsApp, you’ll tap the sticker icon to see one or more suggestions. From there, simply touch a matching sticker to quickly send it to your colleagues, friends, or family members.
WhatsApp is currently testing other unreleased improvements with beta testers.
Other New WhatsApp Features in Testing
Some of these include integration with Facebook Messenger, chat migration between iOS and Android, and a new review tool for voice messages, to name just three. Moreover, the Facebook-owned company will soon test another new capability that would replicate a handy autocomplete emoji feature of Apple’s software keyboard on the iPhone and iPad.
WhatsApp also provides a handy “Vaccines for All” Sticker Pack celebrating the COVID-19 vaccine that you may want to use to communicate to friends visually how you feel about getting that shot. The messaging app also announced that its mobile payments feature is now available to customers in Brazil after launching in India in November 2020.
