Apple has AirDrop, Samsung has Quick Share, and soon WhatsApp could have something of its own.
The popular messaging app is said to be developing a new feature that lets you share files with people nearby over Wi-Fi.
It seems the new option is lurking in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for testers, according to leaker WABetaInfo, meaning it could be available to everyone soon.
Based on leaked screenshots, the new feature will need to be activated to send or receive files. Then, you’ll be able to confirm sharing by shaking your phone, which is similar to how you would undo typing mistakes on an iPhone.
The whole process will be end-to-end encrypted, meaning others including WhatsApp won’t be able to snoop on you.
Of course, the big update here is the ability to quickly share files with people who aren’t in your contacts - without revealing your phone number. As almost everyone uses WhatsApp, it should also be great for sending things between iPhone and Android without the need for a third-party app.
Still, WhatsApp owner Meta will have to make sure it has watertight controls before its official launch. Apple in particular has come under fire in the past over the use of AirDrop to send unsolicited nudes. Last year, the company capped the amount of time users could receive files from non-contacts to 10 minutes.
By default, AirDrop is restricted to sharing files with your contacts, but it was previously easy to change that to allow it to work with anyone, and then forget all about it.
How to share files on WhatsApp
Currently, you can send documents up to 2GB in size on WhatsApp by directly messaging them to a contact.
Just open or start a chat, and then press the plus icon on iPhone or the paperclip icon on Android. Now, tap “documents” and choose from “files” or “photo or video” to share stuff from your phone.
