WhatsApp is at last introducing document scanning capabilities on Android, but exclusively for these users.

WhatsApp is now offering a new feature for its Android beta testers that enables them to scan documents directly within the app, a capability that has been accessible to iOS users for several months. The latest feature eliminates the reliance on external document scanners, as WhatsApp now converts images into documents that can be shared with various contacts.

With the new functionality, WhatsApp will enhance its document-sharing experience for users by enabling them to easily scan, convert, and share documents in PDF format, minimizing the inconvenience of switching between various applications.

The feature was initially noticed in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.18.29, where it stayed dormant as it was still in development. However, it now appears to be gradually launched to a wider group of beta testers, with numerous users indicating they have access to the new function after downloading the latest update from the Google Play Store.

Following the recent update, a new ‘Scan Document’ feature now shows up next to the existing ‘Browse Documents’ and ‘Choose from gallery’ options in the attachment menu. Tapping the new feature will launch your Android device’s camera, prompting users to capture images for sharing documents. Importantly, WhatsApp enables users to align their phone properly for document sharing by offering both manual and automatic choices. In manual mode, users have the ability to choose which sections they wish to scan, while in automatic mode, WhatsApp identifies the document edges to offer an immediate document-sharing experience.

In other related news, WhatsApp introduced a new AI-driven feature earlier this week that summarises users’ personal chats.

The Meta AI-backed feature allows the personal messaging app to create a bullet-point summary of chats in order to provide users with a general idea of what the conversation is about before diving further.