WhatsApp Reportedly Testing Direct File Sharing Between Nearby Users

iOS users might be familiar with AirDrop and Android users now have Google’s Nearby Share to send files directly from one device to another, but Meta is reportedly working on its own wireless protocol to allow users to send files to each other. The feature could be confusing as it would be redundant for many users, but if WhatsApp users find it convenient, it could gain traction. Sharing files directly from one device to another could be quicker, and could help alleviate concerns about privacy and data security since nothing would need to be sent through Meta’s servers or saved in a conversation thread.

The new feature was spotted in a test build of the WhatsApp Android app, which is currently available to beta testers. As reported by WABetainfo, the direct file sharing feature can only be used in specific ways. Both the sender and recipient need to be in close physical proximity, and both need to explicitly signal that they are okay with sharing files. A recipient needs to open a specific ‘People Nearby’ page in the app and physically shake their device before they will even see the file transfer request. 

This is one way to prevent spam and unsolicited ad-hoc broadcasts of files, which was a common complaint for iOS users before Apple introduced a time limit for being able to receive AirDropped files from people not saved as contacts. Transfers are encrypted end-to-end, and users’ phone numbers are not shared if they are not already saved in each others’ contacts. 

It is likely that Meta will tweak and refine the ‘People Nearby’ file sharing experience before it is rolled out as a feature for everyone. It is not known how much longer the beta testing phase will continue and if or when this feature will come to other platforms. Being able to send files between Android phones and iPhones quickly and easily might solve a significant pain point for many users. File sharing could also serve other purposes, such as being able to receive a coupon or leaflet from a business when at a point of sale. Peer-to-peer file transfers also reduce the need for Meta to store large conversation attachments on its own servers, which it currently does for all users for free. In 2023, the company began allowing users to send each other files up to 2GB in size.

WhatsApp frequently beta tests new features to expand the scope of what users can do. Most recently, WhatsApp Channels gained new features including polls and voice notes to improve interactivity and personalisation.