WhatsApp is making it easier to share photos and videos. The Meta platform is bringing a new feature called Recent Media Suggestions for both Android and iOS users. This feature will show the latest photo or video saved in the user’s phone gallery in a chat.
Though the wide rollout is still unconfirmed, it is being sent to some selected users for testing. When this feature is active, WhatsApp users will see a small preview of the latest image above the text box when they open an inbox. Otherwise, they can see the same thumbnail on their camera icon in a chat box. This means they can pick a recent file without opening their phone gallery every time.
Tapping on the thumbnail won’t send the image immediately. It will open a box for editing the image, where users can add a caption or sticker, and then decide whether to share it. While the suggestion will be there, it’s possible to ignore it completely.
The feature turns on by itself when it reaches an account. However, users can switch it off by going to Settings, opening Chats, and turning off Recent Media Suggestions. The rollout is gradual, so not everyone may have it yet.
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The feature doesn’t only choose photos that have been clicked through a mobile camera. It will select the most recent photo or video added to the gallery, irrespective of whether it’s a screenshot, a saved picture, or a clicked one. It looks at the latest file added to the gallery, no matter where it came from.
This can save time when users want to share a screenshot or a video they have just downloaded. However, the newest file may not always be the right one. Someone might take a screenshot of a payment, save a private picture, or download an image before opening a chat. WhatsApp could then show that file instead of an older photo they actually want to send.
The feature is aimed at making media sharing faster and reducing the time users spend scrolling through their galleries. galleries. The new feature may help with that, but it may not always show the most useful file.
Users still have control over what they send, as WhatsApp opens the editing screen before sharing. Those who prefer picking files on their own can also turn off the feature.