WhatsApp Nearby File Sharing Feature for Android in Development Release in Beta Soon Expected All Details

WhatsApp is said to be working on a Nearby file-sharing feature for Android users for quite some time now, which uses Bluetooth to transfer files. The feature was first reported in January 2024, but it has not appeared even on the beta version of the app. Now, a new report claims that the instant messaging platform is further improving the feature and it may be rolled out in beta soon. It is also reported that the company is also working on a Favourites tab.

The new feature has been spotted by WhatsApp features tracker WABetaInfo in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.9.22 build. seen However, this feature is not visible at the moment. According to the report, the ‘People nearby’ feature now comes with a screen asking for several permissions from the user. A separate screen also has an animation to find nearby people and shows a list of discoverable users.

According to the screenshot, the People nearby feature, which is right inside the Settings menu, now gives users information about the permissions required to enable WhatsApp. These include access to photos, media and files, access to Bluetooth, and access to location. While access to files is needed to show and send users, Bluetooth and location services may be required to maintain a connection with other users.

Once all the required permissions are granted, the user is redirected to another page where other users (who have enabled Nearby file-sharing) can become discoverable and transfer files between each other without the need for internet connectivity. In the screenshot, WhatsApp claims that sharing is end-to-end encrypted and the user’s phone number will remain hidden.