The latest WhatsApp TestFlight build introduces sticker suggestions, eliminating the extra steps of having to open and sift through the sticker panel. Here’s how it works.
As spotted by WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS features the same sticker suggestion tool that made its way to the Android beta late last year:
Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.1.10.72 update, which is available on the TestFlight app, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that suggests stickers as users type their messages!
As currently implemented, the feature works alongside the message composer. When the user inserts an emoji that has stickers tagged to it, WhatsApp surfaces a small sticker icon on the right side of the input field, next to the send button.
Tapping that icon opens a results view showing stickers and GIFs associated with that emoji. A “Show more results” button lets the user expand the selection without leaving the conversation.
WABetaInfo explains that the results are selected based on “predefined emoji associations that are linked to stickers during their creation process”. This means that the feature will rely on the emoji metadata added by the sticker creator, at least initially.
Here’s WABetaInfo:
Only stickers that include these associations are eligible to appear as suggestions while typing, ensuring that results remain relevant and contextually accurate. Several third-party sticker creation apps on iOS already support assigning multiple emojis to a single sticker, which improves the chances of the sticker appearing at the right moment. This system helps WhatsApp filter suggestions efficiently, even for users who have many sticker packs downloaded.
Interestingly, the feature appears to be incompatible with stickers created using WhatsApp’s own built-in sticker creator, as it currently doesn’t support emoji associations. But this could change before the feature is officially rolled out.
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