WhatsApp Introduces Document Scanning Feature for Easy Sharing

WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that allows users to scan documents using their phone camera directly from the app. This feature is currently available to some beta testers.

The new feature can be accessed by beta testers who have downloaded the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.19.21 update from the Google Play Store. It eliminates the need for third-party scanning tools.

When selecting the 'Scan document' option from the document-sharing interface, the phone's camera is activated immediately, providing a live preview to help users position the document correctly for scanning.

The scanning experience is designed to meet different user needs and usage scenarios. WhatsApp offers two capture methods, allowing users to choose the one that suits them best.

For users who prefer more control, manual capture is available, enabling them to choose the exact moment to take the photo. This is useful for precise positioning or adjusting lighting for a high-quality scan.

Alternatively, the automatic mode detects the document edges and captures the image without user input, providing a faster experience when time is limited.

After capturing the image, WhatsApp processes it immediately and converts it into a PDF file, ready for sharing in private chats or group conversations.

The entire scanning and conversion process occurs locally on the user's device, utilizing Android's built-in APIs for document capture. The resulting file remains stored on the device until the user decides to send it via WhatsApp.

This new feature will be gradually rolled out to more users in the upcoming weeks.