Nearby Share: WhatsApp to Simplify File Transfers Between Devices

WhatsApp is adding a new sharing feature called Nearby Share, allowing file exchanges between users in close proximity on two different operating systems.

One of the benefits Apple ecosystem users enjoy is device communication through AirDrop, which quickly sends and receives photos, videos, documents, locations, and other content wirelessly. On Android, users benefit from Nearby Share, which easily transfers files between a PC and a nearby Android device. But how do you exchange documents between smartphones with different operating systems?

The solution might come from WhatsApp. In January, Meta tested a new file sharing feature on the Android version of its app. Now, the company is testing it on iOS. The specialized site WABetaInfo discovered in beta version 24.15.10.70 the beginnings of a local sharing system for documents, photos, and videos called Nearby Share, all without needing an Internet connection.

With Nearby Share on WhatsApp, it will soon be possible to share files from an Android device to an iOS device and vice versa without using the Internet. Although this is currently possible through various methods, the process remains complicated.

However, the iOS function differs slightly from the Android version. On Google's operating system, the module can automatically detect nearby users to initiate sharing. On iOS, the user must first scan a QR code displayed on the sharing iPhone's screen to connect. This QR code contains all the necessary connection information, making it impossible to connect to a stranger unintentionally.

As with all WhatsApp conversations, transfers are end to end encrypted, and the feature only displays the sender's and recipient's usernames. Since the feature is still in beta, there is no official release date for all users. But its upcoming arrival is excellent news! It will greatly facilitate file sharing, making it much faster for large files or when the Internet connection is slow, compared to sending via a conversation.

This new feature should also improve the overall user experience by bridging the gap between different operating systems, as not everyone has the same type of phone.