Why is WhatsApp suddenly suggesting stickers when you type an emoji on iPhone — and how do you use it?

Nothing is wrong — it is a new WhatsApp feature. The latest WhatsApp update for iPhone, version 26.8.76, suggests stickers that match the emoji you type in the chat bar, so you can send a sticker in one tap instead of hunting through sticker packs.

You type a laughing emoji in a chat, and before you can hit send, a row of laughing stickers pops up begging to be tapped. Short answer: Nothing is wrong — it is a new WhatsApp feature. The latest WhatsApp update for iPhone, version 26.8.76, suggests stickers that match the emoji you type in the chat bar, so you can send a sticker in one tap instead of hunting through sticker packs.

Why it matters: Sending a sticker used to mean opening the sticker keyboard and scrolling through pack after pack. Now the app does the searching for you: type a laughing emoji and you get funny-reaction stickers; type a heart and you get love-and-affection stickers. The feature was first spotted in version 26.8.75 before WhatsApp listed it in the changelog for 26.8.76.1.

Update WhatsApp in the App Store so you are on version 26.8.76 or newer.2. Open any chat and tap the message box.3. Type an emoji — a laugh, a heart, a thumbs up — and watch for sticker suggestions to appear.4.

Tap a suggested sticker to send it right away.5. Tap 'Show more results' to browse more matches, including stickers from third-party packs you have installed.Pro tip: If you updated and see nothing, do not reinstall the app — WhatsApp says the feature is rolling out gradually and may take a few days to reach everyone, even on the newest version.Ad's take: Stickers are the seasoning of a good chat, and mine were always buried three menus deep. Having the right one show up the second I type an emoji is a small change I will use every single day.