WhatsApp, the popular Meta-owned instant messaging platform, is getting a new useful feature for Android that could make life a little easier for anyone who frequently shares physical documents.

WABetaInfo, a known WhatsApp tipster publication, has discovered a new feature in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.19. 21 update, which allows users to scan physical documents directly from within WhatsApp using their phone’s camera without the need for third-party scanning apps or tools. Once scanned, the document is instantly converted into a PDF and can be shared in a chat or group, just like any other file.

What’s New? 

First spotted in earlier beta versions (starting with 2.25.18.29), WhatsApp has been working on this feature to make document sharing faster, offering users a more streamlined and built-in document-sharing experience.

To use the scanner, beta testers can tap the paperclip icon in a chat and choose the “Scan Document” option from the document-sharing interface. The camera then opens with a live preview that helps users position the document correctly for capture.

WhatsApp offers two capture options so users can pick what suits them best:

  • Manual Mode, for those who prefer precise control over the shot at the right moment. This is useful when you need to adjust the document’s position or lighting to get a clear scan.
  • Automatic Mode makes things faster by automatically finding the edges of the document and taking the photo. This is helpful when time is limited.

After capturing the image, irrespective of the selected mode, WhatsApp immediately processes the image on your device, converts it into a PDF, and keeps it stored locally until you choose to send it.

“The entire scanning and conversion workflow takes place locally on the user’s device and leverages Android’s built-in APIs for document capture. The resulting file stays stored on the device until the user decides to send it through WhatsApp,” WABetaInfo wrote in its report.

As with all content shared on WhatsApp, these scanned documents are protected with end-to-end encryption, so only the intended recipients can see them, keeping your privacy safe.

Currently, WhatsApp’s new built-in document scanner feature is available to some beta testers who have installed the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store. It is expected to roll out to more people over the coming weeks.

Keep watching this space for more updates, as this story is developing.