WhatsApp Working On An Android-Like ‘Nearby Share’ Feature

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will help users share files with nearby people. Similar to Android’s ‘Nearby Share’ functionality, WhatsApp’s file-sharing feature will require users to be physically near one another.

According to a recent report by WABetaInfo, the upcoming file-sharing feature is currently available to those on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.2.17 and requires users to open a new section to be able to send and receive files.

Moreover, it looks like the feature requires users to shake their devices to generate a share request and files can only be sent to users who are in their contact list. Similar to text messages and calls made via WhatsApp, file sharing will have end-to-end encryption.

While the functionality might replicate a feature Android has had for years now, the enhanced encryption combined with the fact that the phone remains hidden from those not on your contact list can make the new feature helpful if you want to share photos or videos with someone in public places.

The report suggests that WhatsApp’s file-sharing feature is currently under development and might be available in a future version of the app, but it is still unclear if and when it will be available on the stable version of the app.

Recently, WhatsApp introduced a bunch of new features to Channels that improve the overall user experience by letting users send voice updates and create polls for Channels and is reportedly working on a new ‘calendar search’ option that lets users easily find previous messages.