WhatsApp Rolls Out Document Scanning Feature for Android Beta Users: Here’s What to Expect

WhatsApp is finally introducing a long-awaited document scanning feature for Android users — but for now, it’s limited to beta testers. This handy feature has already been available to iOS users for some time and is now being tested on the Android platform through the latest beta update.

The new addition allows users to scan documents directly within the WhatsApp app, eliminating the need for third-party scanning apps. Once scanned, documents are automatically converted into PDF format and can be instantly shared with contacts, streamlining the entire process.

Feature Availability

The document scanning feature was first spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.18.29 but was inactive at that time. However, recent updates are now enabling the feature for a broader set of beta users, as reported by multiple users after installing the latest version via the Google Play Store.

How It Works

Once updated, users will see a new ‘Scan Document’ option alongside the usual ‘Browse Documents’ and ‘Choose from Gallery’ in the attachments menu. Tapping this option opens the device’s camera, allowing users to capture images of documents for sharing.

WhatsApp supports both manual and automatic scanning modes:

Manual mode: Users manually select the part of the document to scan.

Automatic mode: WhatsApp detects document edges and auto-selects the area for a quicker, more seamless scanning experience.

This feature aims to offer a smoother document-sharing workflow directly within chats, particularly helpful for professionals and students who often exchange documents.

Additional WhatsApp Updates

Alongside document scanning, WhatsApp recently unveiled a Meta AI-powered chat summarization feature. This tool creates a bullet-point summary of conversations, allowing users to get a quick overview of what was discussed without having to scroll through the entire chat.

As WhatsApp continues expanding its feature set, these additions mark a step toward making the platform even more productivity-friendly.

For now, the document scanning capability is available only to beta testers, but a wider rollout is expected in the coming weeks based on user feedback and performance.