WhatsApp introduces a feature that lets users share stories, posts, and reels from their Instagram and Facebook accounts. Users will have to link their WhatsApp account to Accounts Center to use this feature. This functionality is available for both chats and status updates.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Feature: | Access to Instagram and Facebook media |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | The latest WhatsApp beta versions for Android and iOS are compatible updates. |
| Availability info: | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more people over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | flakoflow, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp expands emoji reactions for messages on Apple Watch! |
WhatsApp launched Accounts Center integration last year
Last year, WhatsApp introduced a feature that lets users manage how their account interacts with other Meta platforms. By linking WhatsApp to Accounts Center, users can enable cross-platform features like sharing status updates to Instagram Stories or Facebook. Accounts Center is optional, so it is up to users to decide whether to connect their accounts. WhatsApp continues to protect personal messages and calls with end-to-end encryption regardless of whether users choose to connect their accounts.
WhatsApp introduces access to Facebook and Instagram media
Today, WhatsApp is improving how users find and share media from their Meta accounts. Users who link their accounts can access media from their Facebook and Instagram accounts directly within WhatsApp. With this feature, it is possible to share media without opening Instagram and Facebook. WhatsApp is bringing this feature to both Android and iOS users at the same time. This makes it possible for users to select photos, videos, and reels from their Meta accounts without leaving the app.
How to access Instagram and Facebook media within WhatsApp
When users open the media picker in WhatsApp, they can switch to the list view to see all available media sources on their device. With this update, WhatsApp is adding Instagram and Facebook to this list as new sources. Users can tap the dropdown at the top of the picker to switch between Instagram and Facebook. This allows them to browse the media shared on Facebook and Instagram.
What media is available from Facebook and Instagram
Users can select stories, posts, and reels from their Instagram and Facebook accounts. Users can choose anything they shared on those platforms and select any item within WhatsApp. Stories, posts, and reels appear in a grid, the same layout users already know from the media picker. Users can scroll through the grid to share a recent story, an older post, or a reel they published on Facebook or Instagram.
Where users can share media from Facebook and Instagram on WhatsApp
WhatsApp is not limiting this feature to specific sections of the app. For example, users can pick Instagram and Facebook media when they create a status update. This makes it easier for users to reuse content they already shared on other platforms. Users can also select media from the same picker in their conversations. WhatsApp shows the dropdown for choosing between Instagram and Facebook in both contexts.
Accounts Center is optional, but it is required to use this feature
Accounts Center is an optional feature on WhatsApp. Users who want to keep their WhatsApp account separate from their other Meta accounts do not need to connect them. However, users who want to access Instagram and Facebook media within WhatsApp need to link their accounts. Without this connection, WhatsApp doesn't show Instagram and Facebook as media sources in the picker. Note that the connection only works in one direction. Instagram and Facebook do not gain access to WhatsApp media, since WhatsApp stores media on the device.
WhatsApp is rolling out Meta media access to Android and iOS
This feature is available to some users who install the latest updates for Android and iOS. WhatsApp is rolling it out gradually, so not every beta tester will see this feature immediately. This means that some users will have to wait for a future update before the feature becomes available. WhatsApp has not announced when this will be available to everyone.
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