New Delhi, April 23, 2024: WhatsApp is developing a new feature that will make it easier for users to share files even without an internet connection. Recent leaks have revealed that the messaging app is working on a way to let people share photos, videos, music, and documents offline.
WABetaInfo has reported that WhatsApp is actively working on this feature to allow users to share various types of files without needing an internet connection. The shared files will also be encrypted, making it hard for anyone to tamper with them or corrupt them.
Leaked screenshots from the latest WhatsApp beta for Android show the permissions that the app will need to make this feature work. One important option is to find nearby phones that also support this offline file-sharing feature. This is a standard system permission on Android that lets apps scan nearby devices through Bluetooth for local file-sharing. However, users will have the option to turn off this access if they want.
Besides discovering nearby devices, WhatsApp will also need permission to access system files and the photo gallery on your phone. The app will also require location permission to check if other devices are close enough to connect with. Despite these permissions, WhatsApp will mask phone numbers and encrypt the shared files, making sure the sharing process is safe and secure.
This new feature is similar to how peer-to-peer file-sharing apps like ShareIT used to work. These apps allowed users to share files between devices without needing a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. Given that WhatsApp users often share different types of media files and documents, this new feature could be a useful addition to the app.
WhatsApp has not announced when this feature will be available to users, but since it is already in beta testing, we can expect it to be rolled out soon. This new feature has the potential to make file-sharing more convenient and secure for WhatsApp users around the world.