According to WABetaInfo, it appears that WhatsApp is planning to introduce a screen-sharing feature for its users during video calls, similar to Apple’s FaceTime, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. This feature was discovered by WABetaInfo while analyzing the files of the latest Android beta version of WhatsApp. The feature will add a new icon at the bottom of the video call interface, allowing users to share their screen with the other person on the call. During video calls, everything displayed on the screen will be recorded, and the user can revoke permission and end the transmission at any time.
However, there are certain requirements that need to be met before users can try out screen-sharing. The feature may not be available on older versions of Android, and the recipient of the screen-sharing cannot have an outdated version of WhatsApp. Additionally, it is unclear if screen-sharing will work in large group calls. As this feature is still in beta testing, the exact limitations and restrictions of the update have not been officially confirmed.
If users want to try out screen-sharing themselves, they will need to join the Google Play Beta Program and install the beta version of WhatsApp. At this stage, screen-sharing is only available to a limited number of testers, but it is expected to roll out to more users in the coming days.
It remains uncertain if the screen-sharing feature will be available on iPhones, especially since FaceTime already offers a similar functionality. However, WhatsApp for iOS is introducing Companion Mode, which allows users to link their account on up to four devices simultaneously while maintaining the same level of privacy.
The feature has been officially released on the App Store, and users can link their devices by scanning a QR code. The chat history will be synchronized across all connected smartphones. It is noted that Companion Mode may not be immediately available upon download, but the update will be released over the coming weeks.
