14 DAY TRIAL // WhatsApp has been working on implementing a feature that’s long been awaited, the tool for searching GIFs on Giphy. WhatsApp 2.17.6 beta also raises the media sharing limit from 10 to 30.
The new WhatsApp beta version comes with a very useful feature for searching and sending GIFs, according to Android Police. Users no longer need to use a separate Giphy client, the GBoard or any other GIF applications in order to send funny reactions to texts received from their friends.
They also don’t need to scroll through their phone’s gallery in order to find a GIF to send. The new feature can be enabled when users tap the emoji button in WhatsApp’s text box. A new bottom bar appears that allows users to switch between emojis and GIFs. From there, users can search Giphy using a keyword to find suitable GIFs or simply scroll through the provided suggestions. Users can add captions to GIFs before sending them in conversations.
The Giphy integration comes as a natural move for WhatsApp, considering that the app recently received the ability to send GIFs in different forms, tools for converting videos into GIFs and a feature for sharing GIFs on various devices.
Media sharing limit was raised to 30 from 10
This isn’t the only novelty in the WhatsApp beta version. Users can now send more than 10 media files in conversations. Before the media sharing limit was increased, users could only send a batch of 10 pictures or videos in one go. Now, the limit has been set to 30, which means that significantly more content can be sent at a time, without having to worry about duplicates.
The new WhatsApp 2.17.6 beta version is available in the Google Play Store for users who join the beta program. It will start rolling out to all users soon.
UPDATE: It appears that Giphy isn't the only third-party GIF client to be integrated in the WhatsApp 12.7.6 beta version. Users can also search for GIFs on Tenor, just like on Giphy.
