Good news for Android users — WhatsApp is finally letting you bring your motion-packed photos to life without losing their charm. Yes, you read that right!
The latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.22.29 update is rolling out a new feature to share motion photos that allows users to send images in chats, groups, and channels that include short bursts of movement and sound. It is similar to the Live Photos feature available on iOS and is designed to make shared moments feel more vivid and immersive.
Spotted by WABetaInfo, a known WhatsApp tipster publication, the feature to share motion photos in chats, groups, and channels is currently available only to select beta testers. Previously, too, the publication had reported about the feature being under development in version 2.25.8.12.
“The implementation aims to enhance the media-sharing experience by enabling users to share more immersive memories that go beyond static images,” says WABetaInfo report. “Supporting motion photos in WhatsApp is also a convenient improvement, as users don’t need third-party apps to share motion-based content.
Motion Photos on Android Devices
Motion photos have been around on many Android devices — Samsung calls them Motion Photo, while Google Pixel uses Top Shot/Motion Photos. These phones don’t just snap a photo — they also catch a few seconds of movement and sound before and after the click, creating a tiny video alongside the still image. With the latest update, Android users can finally share motion photos without turning them into videos or losing the movement.
“As WhatsApp explains, motion photos include a recording of the moments before and after the picture was taken. This adds a more dynamic and emotional touch to what would otherwise be a single frame. In most cases, the recording also includes audio, which adds another sensory layer to the overall experience and helps capture the true atmosphere of the moment,” WABetaInfo report added.
Now, when you select a motion photo from your gallery, you get to decide — keep the original motion and audio intact and send it as a dynamic photo, or freeze it into a still image right inside using WhatsApp’s drawing editor. Once sent, a small motion icon will appear in the top-left corner of the thumbnail so recipients know that it is more than just a regular photo.
However, there is one small catch for Pixel Pro users — you may need to temporarily turn off the 50MP high-res mode to capture motion shots. But once enabled, the result is a richer, more atmospheric way to share memories, capturing not just what you saw, but the sights and sounds of the original scene surrounding it.
The feature to share motion photos in chats, groups, and channels is only showing up for select beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store. But it should reach more Android users in the coming weeks, and when it does, your WhatsApp chats are about to get a whole lot livelier.
