You can finally send GIFs in the latest WhatsApp beta

GIF aficionados (Gificionados?), rejoice!

After many, many months of waiting, the latest update to WhatsApp beta adds the ability to send and receive animated images. GIF support has been high on the wish-list of millions of WhatsApp users, and now the Facebook-owned service is finally delivering.

The feature is part of WhatsApp Beta v2.16.293, and it works pretty much as you’d expect. Just tap on the paperclip button from your WhatsApp chat and select Gallery. Besides the well-known Photos and Videos options, you can now spice up your conversations with GIF animations that are stored on your device. Just select the GIF, add an optional caption, and tap to send the image to your friend.

GIFs you receive will show up with a circular GIF badge and you’ll have to tap it for the animation to play. Tap the image outside the badge and you’ll get a full screen version.

It’s worth noting that limited GIF support has actually been baked into WhatsApp for a while now, though enabling it required tampering with the device’s root. Now the feature is rolling out to everyone, starting with the Beta and you can expect the stable release to get it in the next weeks.

To join the WhatsApp beta program and get early access to cool new features, just head over to the Play Store and sign up.

Have you tried this feature? Let us know what you think!