WhatsApp, the popular Meta-owned instant messaging platform, is reportedly testing a new file sharing feature similar to Apple’s AirDrop. This feature will allow iOS users to exchange files with people nearby.
WABetaInfo, a well-known WhatsApp tipster publication, discovered the new feature in the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.15.10.70 update, which is available on the TestFlight app.
For those unaware, the above feature was first reportedly being tested in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.2.20 update in January 2024.
Although the file-sharing feature is still under development on WhatsApp beta for Android, it appears that WhatsApp is extending this feature to the iOS platform as well.
The new file sharing feature will allow users to easily share documents, photos, videos, and other files with nearby devices without having to depend on an Internet connection.
However, this feature will be slightly different from WhatsApp for Android, as it would require you to scan a QR code to begin sharing the file instead of using the same nearby device detection method used for Android.
“Sharing files with people nearby without relying on an Internet connection significantly will enhance the file transfer experience. This method is particularly advantageous for large files such as high-resolution photos, videos, and documents, especially in areas with limited or unstable network coverage, where people might be unable to use WhatsApp,” WABetaInfo report said.
“This feature will also work across different platforms, including Android and iOS, regardless of the type of device users or their contacts are using. In addition, this is compatible with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the intended recipients can access the content.”
It’s important to note that this feature is in an early stage of development, which means that the final version may change significantly before it is officially made available to the public.
The file-sharing feature is expected to be added in a future update to the instant messaging app.
Keep watching this space for more updates as this story develops!