WhatsApp Is Testing Screen Sharing for Video Calls

WhatsApp finally has screen sharing.

Metra's secured messaging app is reportedly rolling out an update that would allow people to see what's on their phone's display with others to let them know what they're seeing after so long.

WhatsApp is one of the messaging apps that didn't previously offer this feature to its users.

WhatsApp Screen Sharing Details

WABetaInfo spotted the company to be rolling out an update that brings its new share screening feature to the public. According to the publication, WhatsApp is beta testing the feature it sorely lacks after the company added it to its latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.11.19 update from the Google Play Store.

The app's screen-sharing feature allows users to easily share their screen during a video call after they tap the new icon located in the call control view. When they decide to share their screen, everything displayed on their screen will be recorded and viewable by others on their phones while the app is up.

However, the feature doesn't discriminate in what it can share - passwords, payment details, photos, messages, and audio that users play will also be shared with others while they are sharing their screen's content, per a screen accompanying the call recording prompt.

Furthermore, the feature is unavailable on old Android versions, and it is only limited to individual chats for the time being, meaning that users can't share their screens yet with a large group audience just yet.

Likewise, screen sharing won't be available if a user has an outdated version of the app - those who have yet to update their app or are using WhatsApp on an old device won't get the feature.

What the feature can do, though is to provide users with full control over it despite the continuous transmission of a user's screen content during a video call; they can stop sharing their screens at any time. Additionally, the feature is only enabled if they consent to share their screen content with others.

Interestingly, the update also comes with a few minor changes to the app's bottom navigation bar for Android - some tabs within it were arranged in a certain order. This configuration allows users to see the tabs within the bottom navigation bar in this order: Chats, Calls, Communities, and Status.

WhatsApp's Other New Features

It isn't known when WhatsApp will release screen sharing to the public, but it is among the many features it is currently developing that show some promises of being launched to the public in the foreseeable future.

You may recall that These features and improvements include the previously mentioned bottom navigation bar for easier navigation with one hand and animated emojis.

The company is also developing a feature that would add usernames to make searching for people on the platform easier and safer to do. Finally, it is also working on a companion mode that lets users use their accounts across multiple phones.