WhatsApp now lets you search for GIFs from within its interface

By Harish Jonnalagadda
last updated

The latest update to WhatsApp beta introduces GIF search, allowing you to search for and add GIFs without leaving the messaging platform. WhatsApp added support for GIFs a few months ago, although it was limited to sharing locally-saved GIFs. Today's update makes it easier to search through Giphy's extensive library and add GIFs directly from within WhatsApp's interface. The update also increases the media sharing limit from 10 to 30.

WhatsApp GIF search

The GIF search is accessible by selecting the emoji button to the left of the text box. Once you're in the emoji selection window, you'll see an option to toggle between emoji and GIFs. The latter tab shows you a list of popular GIFs, and there's also an option to search through Giphy if you have a particular keyword in mind.

The ability to search GIFs is now live in the beta client (1.27.7), and should be rolling out to the stable release shortly.

Harish Jonnalagadda
Harish Jonnalagadda
Senior Editor - Asia

Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia at Android Central. He leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, contributing to reviews, features, and buying guides. He also writes about storage servers, audio products, and the semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.

10 Comments
  • I can't get it to work, it's saying text field not supported, any help??
  • Never mind they've just dropped it in the latest beta
  • It's pretty good
  • How does one get on the beta program?
  • Search for the app in the Play Store, scroll down and you will see the option to join in. It takes about 10 minutes before they let you download the beta version. Be advised that on some days you will have multiple updates.
  • Really? I had to register on their website and then my regular WhatsApp app got an update to the latest beta.
  • How does it compare to Gboard?
  • Thank the gods, now we can communicate with less and less of those pesky words. Because command of language and rational thought is, like, 😤😤😤
  • 😂 😁
  • Still not able to do the search for gif yet I've had loads of beta updates of the past few days ?