File sharing via WhatsApp could soon get very convenient with a new feature, which will be similar to Android’s Quick Share. According to WABetaInfo, a popular website known for revealing upcoming WhatsApp features, has reported that the latest WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.24.2.17 brings this new file-sharing option. Currently, the feature is only available to WhatsApp beta users on Android, but we can expect it to roll out to iOS and general users soon. Let’s take a look at WhatsApp’s new nearby share feature and how it will work.
WhatsApp Will Soon Get a Nearby Share Feature To Transfer Files
The publication has posted screenshots of a new way of sharing files on WhatsApp (pictured above). We can see that the Meta-owned instant messaging platform will get a People Nearby section soon. It’s not clear where the section will be, but we can guess that the option is available in the three-dot menu section on the top.
According to the screenshot, the feature will only work with people near each other and in contact lists. Users will be able to send up to 2GB of files over Bluetooth with the new feature without having to open the chat with the intended recipient. The new feature requires users to head to the People Nearby section on the app and generate a file share request.
The intended recipient has to open the same section on their device to receive the file. They must then shake their smartphone to see the share request and accept or deny it.
WhatsApp claims that the new method of sharing on the platform is end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the sender and the recipient can access the file for privacy. The new feature also hides the sender’s and recipient’s phone numbers for enhanced privacy. This makes the feature ideal for those who want to share a file without revealing their personal details to the recipients. With the new feature, WhatsApp is providing its users with a practical and secure file-sharing solution for various scenarios.
In related news, Google rebranded its Nearby Share feature to Quick Share earlier this month. Google announced the rebrand in collaboration with Samsung at the CES 2024. The Quick Share will allow users to transfer files between phones and computers like Apple’s AirDrop. It requires a companion app installed on ChromeOS and Windows devices for a unified wireless sharing experience across devices.
