In the beta release of WhatsApp for Android, version 2.23.11.19, a new capability was identified that enables screen sharing during chats. This feature, tracked by tech portals and info sites, would let one user broadcast their device screen to the other person in the conversation.
Activation is planned through a dedicated icon in the search panel. Once engaged, everything on the screen could be shown to the recipient in real time, extending the typical messaging experience beyond text, images, and video. The announcement underscores that this is an opt-in feature, contingent on both parties agreeing to share screen content and on the sender granting the app permission to broadcast device activity.
Users should be aware that screen sharing might not appear in older Android builds and could face limitations in very large group chats. If the recipient is using an older WhatsApp version, they may not receive the shared screen feed properly, or the session might not be usable at all. These constraints reflect the ongoing stage of testing and the need for broad compatibility across devices and app versions.
Beyond the technical visibility of the screen share, the ability to stop recording is presented as straightforward. The feature is designed to be dismissible at any moment, giving users control over when the broadcast begins and ends. Privacy considerations are highlighted, with the understanding that screen sharing is permitted only after the user has explicitly allowed WhatsApp to share smartphone content with others during a chat session.
In related development news, discussions in tech circles about WhatsApp have touched on plans to introduce user nicknames. This forthcoming capability would let people find contacts by a chosen alias rather than relying on phone numbers, potentially simplifying connections for business and personal use alike. The feature is described as a way to improve discovery and reduce the friction associated with exchanging contact details, aligning with broader trends toward more flexible and privacy-respecting identifiers within messaging apps.