WhatsApp is working on a new customization option for iPhone users that could let premium subscribers replace the default emoji in the message reaction tray with their own favorites.
The feature is currently under development and is not yet available to beta testers. References found in WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.32.10.16 suggest the company is preparing the same custom reaction system already being developed for Android.
WhatsApp Could Make TheReaction Tray Personal
Today, WhatsApp gives everyone the same six emoji when they tap and hold a message: Thumbs Up, Red Heart, Face with Tears of Joy, Surprised Face, Crying Face, and Folded Hands. Users who want a different reaction have to tap the plus button and search through the full emoji keyboard.
The upcoming feature would let users replace any of those six shortcuts with an emoji of their choice. A dedicated settings screen would show the current reaction tray and let users select replacements from the full emoji keyboard. Users could customize as many of the six slots as they want or restore the original set at any time.
That could make reactions considerably more useful for people who regularly use emoji that are not included in WhatsApp’s default selection. Instead of opening the full keyboard every time, users could keep their most-used reactions immediately available.
WhatsApp is developing the feature for WhatsApp Plus subscribers, making it part of the second set of premium features the company is reportedly preparing. The first set includes options such as chat themes, custom app icons, premium stickers, and the ability to pin up to 20 chats.
The custom reaction tray is already being developed for Android, and its appearance in the iOS beta suggests WhatsApp intends to offer the feature across both platforms. However, WhatsApp has not enabled it for beta testers yet, and there is currently no confirmed timeline for its public release.
For now, the feature remains an early work in progress. WhatsApp could still change how the reaction customization works before it reaches beta testers or decides to release it to users more broadly.
