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WhatsApp Adds Message Bubble Animation on iPhone, Users Can Disable It

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First reported by Now 14 · Jul 15, 2026

What happened

WhatsApp added a popping bubble animation for messages on iPhones in July 2026, which users found annoying. The app now allows disabling this animation via settings to restore the previous message display.

01WhatsApp introduced a popping bubble animation for sent messages on iPhones in July 2026.
02Many users complained the new animation is annoying and outdated.
03The animation resembles a previous iOS feature WhatsApp had removed.
04Users can disable the animation via Settings > Chats > Animations in WhatsApp.
05The disable option is a new dedicated toggle separate from emoji and sticker animations.
06WhatsApp responded quickly to user feedback to improve the chat experience.

Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.

In this story

OrganizationsWhatsApp