WhatsApp has just submitted a new update through the TestFlight beta Program, bringing the version up to 23.9.0.75. The version marked within WhatsApp Settings is 2.23.9.75 and the TestFlight build is 23.9.0 (471795737).
What’s new in this update? WhatsApp is releasing a feature to automatically play GIFs, and it is available to some beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | GIF auto-play |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.9.0.72 is marked as a compatible update, but the rollout seems wider after installing the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.9.0.75 update. |
| I have the same version but I don’t have this feature, why? | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more people over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | FastenM, SiLent, and DeathBase, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp announced updates regarding polls, documents, and forwarding media with caption! |
904 days, 15 hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds ago
Check out TestFlight or Twitter to discover when it's available.
GIF AUTO-PLAY
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.10.2 update, we announced that WhatsApp was bringing some changes to GIFs regarding the way they are played. Previously, users needed to tap the GIF to start its animation but, after installing the update of WhatsApp beta for Android, GIFs will automatically be played when they appear in the conversation as you scroll through it. With the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.9.0.75 update released on the TestFlight app, we discovered that this feature is also available to some beta testers on iOS:
As you can see in this video, the GIF is automatically played when we open the conversation. As happened after installing the update on Android, some users might have initially assumed this to be a bug, but it is a new feature available to a selected group of beta testers. Note that after the initial playback, you will have to tap on the GIF to play it again. In fact, the automatic playback feature is only available for the first time the GIF appears in the conversation because it may cause some distractions.
Although it may seem like a small detail, we believe that the auto-play GIF feature, along with other recent minor additions, contributes to improving the user experience of the app. As we explained in the article about the Android update, WhatsApp keeps working on new ways to enhance communication and messaging, and this is another example of their commitment to making these experiences better for all users.
The feature that allows the app to automatically play GIFs is available to some beta testers that install the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming days.
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