WhatsApp works behind the scenes to share files with nearby contacts: a feature reminiscent of AirDrop or Google’s Nearby Share.

WABetaInfo, a very reliable source when it comes to new WhatsApp features, has looked into a future beta update and discovered an option to share files with your contacts. Of course, this is already possible by adding an attachment to a chat, but the feature also allows you to do this without having to start a conversation. The feature works like AirDrop in iOS and the Android counterpart of Google Nearby Share (or should we say Quick Share?).

The feature introduces a new window in WhatsApp: People nearby. This window allows you to send files to phones that are close enough to have a Bluetooth connection. This only works if this phone’s number is also in your contact list. Files can be up to 2 GB in size.

More than one copy

Quickly sharing files with WhatsApp seems a little more complicated than with AirDrop or Nearby Share, but it can have a big advantage over the well-known alternatives. When WhatsApp is ready to share files between Android devices and iPhones, a significant restriction will be lifted. For now, the feature appears to be intended only for Android, but this may change during the actual rollout.

Meta is significantly expanding its messaging app and will continue in 2024. Polls and voice messages have already been added to channels this year. Since the end of last year, you have been able to pin messages to the top of a (group) conversation for up to thirty days.