By Pavethran Batmanathen,
WhatsApp is currently testing a new feature that allows Android users to scan documents directly within the app, eliminating the need for third-party scanning applications. This functionality is being trialed in the beta version 2.25.18.29.
Once implemented, users will find a ‘Scan Document’ option in the attachment menu. Selecting this will activate the phone’s camera, enabling users to scan documents similarly to dedicated scanning apps. The scanned document is then converted into a PDF, ready to be sent via WhatsApp. The tool offers two modes: manual, where the user captures the image by pressing the shutter button, and automatic, where the app detects the document’s edges and captures the image automatically.
Importantly, the scanning process is handled entirely on-device, utilizing native Android APIs for image capture and processing. This approach ensures that the scanned files are not uploaded to any external servers or cloud storage by default and are safely stored on the phone itself. The document is only sent through WhatsApp if the user chooses to share it. Once sent, it is protected with WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, meaning only the sender and receiver can view it.
While this feature is currently under development for Android, it is expected to roll out to a wider audience in a future update. WhatsApp first introduced the document scanning feature for iPhone users in December 2024, and the Android rollout is anticipated to follow soon.
