Similar to Apple’s Airdrop and Android’s Quick Share, WhatsApp might also let you share files without taking up your mobile data.
WhatsApp is reportedly working on a feature that will allow users to share files without requiring an active internet connection. Similar to Apple’s Airdrop and Google’s Nearby Share functionality, users will be able to send documents, videos, photos and other files without eating up their daily mobile data limit.
First spotted by WABetaInfo earlier this year in January, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform has been testing the functionality on Android but a recent report by the publication hints that the developers are working on making it available on iOS-powered devices as well.
The report also states that it is currently under development, but there is a possibility that the offline file-sharing feature will find its way into a future version of the app. Also, the implementation on iOS devices seems to be a bit different than the Android version as it requires users to scan a QR code to initiate the file transfer process. For those in the loop, WhatsApp will reportedly use the built-in Quick Share (previously Nearby Share) to send or receive files between devices.
While WhatsApp already lets you share files up to 2GB in size, the upcoming functionality is particularly useful if you are someone who wants to share large files that exceed the size limit. It can also come in handy if you are in an area with bad or no network connectivity.
Similar to other WhatsApp features, the file transfer tool is expected to offer end-to-end encryption, so no one can eavesdrop on the content of your files. One thing to note is that the offline file transfer feature currently seems to be in the early stages of development, and it is still uncertain if and when WhatsApp will make it available to everyone.
