WhatsApp Adds Profile Cover Photos on Android: How to Set Yours

WhatsApp is testing a new profile customization feature that could make personal accounts look a little more like Facebook profiles.

The messaging platform has started rolling out profile cover photos for personal accounts on Android. The feature allows users to place a landscape image above their existing profile picture, giving their WhatsApp profile a more personalized appearance.

The feature was previously associated with WhatsApp Business accounts, but WhatsApp is now bringing the option to personal profiles as well. According to WABetaInfo, the feature is currently rolling out to some users running WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.43.11.

What Are WhatsApp Profile Cover Photos?

A WhatsApp profile cover photo is a wide, landscape-style image that appears at the top of your profile.

It does not replace your existing profile picture. Instead, users can have both images displayed together.

The cover photo can appear in several places, including:

• The WhatsApp profile page
• The app's settings section
• The chat information screen when another person views your profile

When a user hasn't selected a cover photo, WhatsApp displays a default image instead.

This gives personal WhatsApp accounts another way to express themselves without changing their main profile picture.

How to Add a Cover Photo on WhatsApp

If the feature is available on your Android account, setting a cover photo is relatively straightforward.

Follow these steps:

1. Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
2. Open your profile.
3. Tap the Edit button.
4. Look for the new cover photo option.
5. Choose how you want to add the image.
6. Select a photo from your gallery or take a new picture.
7. Alternatively, use Meta AI to generate a cover image if the option is available.
8. Adjust the image if necessary.
9. Save the cover photo.

WhatsApp automatically crops the selected image to fit the landscape format.

However, the feature is being released gradually, so you may not see the option even if you are using the latest beta version.

You Can Use Meta AI to Create a Cover Image

WhatsApp is also giving users another way to create a cover photo.

Instead of selecting an existing picture, users can use Meta AI to generate an image.

This could be useful for people who want a customized background but don't have a suitable photo stored on their phone.

The availability of Meta AI features can vary by account and region, so not every WhatsApp user will necessarily see the option.

WhatsApp Adds Privacy Controls for Cover Photos

One of the more important parts of the new feature is the ability to control who can see your cover photo.

WhatsApp provides four visibility options:

• Everyone — Anyone on WhatsApp can see the cover photo.
• My Contacts — Only people saved in your contacts can see it.
• My Contacts Except — You can hide it from selected contacts.
• Nobody — The cover photo remains hidden from everyone else.

The default setting is reportedly Everyone, so users who upload a personal image may want to review their privacy settings afterward.

If someone doesn't have permission to view your cover photo, WhatsApp won't display it on the chat information screen.

Where Will Other People See Your Cover Photo?

The new image isn't limited to your own profile settings.

When another WhatsApp user opens your chat information screen, the cover photo can appear above your profile picture, name and phone number.

This makes the feature more noticeable than a simple profile customization option.

WhatsApp's privacy controls determine whether another person can actually see the image.

WhatsApp Cover Photos Are Still in Beta

There is one important limitation: WhatsApp profile cover photos aren't available to everyone yet.

The feature is currently being rolled out to selected Android beta testers using version 2.26.43.11. WhatsApp is expected to expand the rollout gradually, but the company has not announced a specific date for when the feature will reach all Android or iPhone users.

If you are using WhatsApp and don't see the option, there is nothing necessarily wrong with your app. The feature may simply not have reached your account yet.

How Is This Different From WhatsApp Business Cover Photos?

WhatsApp Business accounts have previously had access to cover-photo functionality, allowing businesses to add a banner-style image to their profiles.

The new development is significant because WhatsApp is now testing the same type of customization for personal accounts.

That means regular users will no longer need a business account simply to get a more visually customized profile.

WhatsApp Continues to Expand Profile Customization

WhatsApp has gradually added more ways for users to personalize their profiles, including profile pictures, avatars and AI-generated images.

The new cover-photo feature takes that customization a step further by giving users a larger visual area to work with.

For some users, it may simply be a decorative addition. For others, it could become a useful way to showcase hobbies, interests, artwork, travel photos or other images.

What to Do If You Don't See the Cover Photo Option

If you are an Android user and cannot find the new setting, don't worry.

The feature is still rolling out gradually. You can:

1. Check whether WhatsApp has a newer beta update available.
2. Make sure you're using a compatible Android beta version.
3. Restart WhatsApp after updating.
4. Check your profile's Edit options again.
5. Wait for the feature to reach your account if it hasn't been enabled yet.

Installing the latest version does not guarantee immediate access because WhatsApp can enable new features through a gradual server-side rollout.

WhatsApp Profile Cover Photos: What We Know

The new feature gives personal WhatsApp users a simple way to make their profiles more distinctive.

Feature: Profile cover photos
Platform: Android
Current version: WhatsApp beta 2.26.43.11
Availability: Selected beta testers
Image type: Landscape cover photo
Options: Gallery, camera and Meta AI
Privacy: Everyone, My Contacts, My Contacts Except and Nobody
iPhone availability: Not announced
Full rollout: Not announced

WhatsApp is clearly testing whether profile cover photos can become a useful addition to personal accounts. For now, Android beta users are the first to try it, while everyone else will have to wait for the wider rollout.