WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned media viewer for Android Beta users, introducing a dedicated bar that lets people react to and reply to photos and videos without leaving the full-screen view.
According to a report by WABetaInfo, the update overhauls the reply and reaction feature WhatsApp first introduced in 2024.
Under the previous system, users had to exit the full-screen photo or video view before they could reply or react to it. The new interface eliminates that step by adding a complete response bar directly to the media preview screen.
The redesigned bar displays two default emoji reactions, while a single tap opens the full range of reaction emojis. Users can also access the complete emoji keyboard by tapping the plus button within the bar.
In addition to reactions, the updated media viewer includes a full chat bar at the bottom of the screen. This allows users to type text replies, attach photos or videos, record voice messages, or send other types of content directly from the media viewing screen.
The feature is currently limited to select beta testers on Android, and WhatsApp has not announced a timeline for its wider release.
