WhatsApp removes the privacy setting to control avatar stickers
WhatsApp is officially removing its privacy settings for avatar stickers as the platform phases out support for avatars entirely. According to reports from WABetaInfo, the app is deleting the configuration menu that once allowed users to manage who could pair their digital avatars with others in chat, signaling a broad retreat from the personalized sticker feature across both Android and iOS.
Why is WhatsApp removing avatar stickers?
WhatsApp has not released a formal statement regarding the deprecation of avatars, but industry analysts point to low user engagement as the primary driver. According to data tracked by WABetaInfo, the feature failed to gain significant traction among the platform’s billions of users. By removing underutilized tools, WhatsApp aims to streamline its interface and reallocate development resources toward core communication functions. This follows a clear pattern of “feature pruning,” where the company removes legacy tools—such as the keyboard entry point for avatars—to prevent app bloat.
Pro Tip: Can’t find your old avatar stickers? If you previously saved them to your favorites or used them in recent chats, they will remain accessible in your sticker tray. You simply cannot generate new ones or edit existing designs.
What happens to existing privacy controls?
The privacy setting that governed avatar interaction is being removed because the underlying feature no longer functions. Previously, this setting offered three tiers of control: “My Contacts,” “Selected Contacts,” and “Nobody.” Because users can no longer create or display new avatars, the need for these granular permissions has effectively vanished. According to WABetaInfo, the setting is disappearing from privacy menus in a gradual, server-side rollout. If the option is still visible on your device, it will likely be removed in the coming weeks.
How does this compare to previous feature updates?
The removal of avatar privacy controls mirrors the strategic shift seen in other recent WhatsApp updates. While the company recently introduced new group info settings on Android to enhance utility, it simultaneously cut back on aesthetic, non-essential features like avatars. This contrast highlights a shift in product philosophy: prioritizing functional, high-frequency tools over experimental, low-adoption features. Unlike the group info update, which is expanding, the avatar feature is being systematically deleted from the codebase.
Did you know? WhatsApp once allowed two different users to combine their avatars into a single, shared sticker. This required both parties to have each other saved as contacts and both to have the privacy setting enabled.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will my previously sent avatar stickers disappear?
- No. Stickers already sent in chats or saved to your favorites remain available for use.
- Can I still edit my avatar?
- No. WhatsApp has removed the ability to create and edit avatars on both Android and iOS.
- Is this update immediate?
- The change is part of a gradual rollout. It may take several weeks for the privacy setting to disappear for all users globally.
- Why did WhatsApp add this feature in the first place?
- Avatars were initially introduced to compete with similar personalized emoji features on other social platforms, though they ultimately failed to reach the usage thresholds required to stay in the app.
Have you noticed the avatar settings disappearing from your account, or are you still seeing them in your privacy menu? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check our latest updates on the WABetaInfo website for more on the shifting landscape of WhatsApp features.