WhatsApp is testing a handy update that will make sharing photos and videos even faster. In the latest beta (version 2.24.23.11), a new feature will appear directly in the chat bar: a shortcut that will give you direct access to the Gallery app with just one tap. Spotted by WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp feature aims to cut down the steps required to share media, making the process smoother and quicker.
Currently, to share something from your gallery in WhatsApp, you need to tap on the camera icon or the attachment button. This will bring up a full menu with a list of options: Gallery, Camera, Location, Contacts, Documents, Audio, Poll and WhatsApp’s AI-powered Imagine feature. This new Gallery shortcut will save you time by letting you skip the menu and go straight to your photos.
But there`s a trade-off: the new gallery icon takes the spot previously held by the camera shortcut in the chat bar. This change means you`ll have to tap the paperclip icon and select Camera from the list if you want to snap a photo directly. For users who rely on quick access to the camera, it might feel like a small step backwards. On the other hand, if you mostly share saved photos, this WhatsApp feature will likely feel like an upgrade.
For now, the gallery shortcut is available to a limited number of Android beta testers. WhatsApp is keeping an eye on user feedback to decide if this will become a permanent feature. Depending on how users respond, we may soon see the gallery shortcut rolled out to everyone—or it might stay exclusive to beta testers if it doesn`t prove popular.
Other New WhatsApp Features
Meanwhile, WhatsApp is also testing a new feature that will let users to perform a quick image search on the web, making it easier to verify the authenticity of photos shared within chats.
This new reverse image search feature which can be accessed through the “Search on web” option is also currently available only to WhatsApp beta testers on Android and could be a valuable tool for identifying manipulated or misleading images shared across the platform.
Separately, WhatsApp is also working on a feature that will soon let users be able to store their contacts on WhatsApp.
