WhatsApp adds support for Live Photos on iOS, Motion Photos and Document scanning on

[harlan4096]

WhatsApp has announced a couple of new features for Android and iOS.  You can now send Live Photos on iOS, and Motion Photos on Android.

You may be aware that WhatsApp already allows you to record videos as an animated GIF. Live Photos and Motion Photos are short-looped videos that you can capture, but it also has sound. So, how is that different from a regular video? Well, you have to tap on a video to play it. Live Photos and Motion Photos animate automatically as you scroll through the chat. You can also press and hold on it to view the animation. Live Photos include footage from a few seconds before and after the shutter button was tapped to take a photo.

I don't have access to the feature on my iPhone or Android, it appears to be rolling out to users. A friend of mine was able to test it, apparently WhatsApp displays a pop-up about the new feature. Once you have access to Live Photos or Motion Photos, you'll be able to send them to your family and friends. Oddly, even though I can't send Live Photos, I was able to receive them just fine. The media has a Live Photo button, tapping on which plays or stops the animation.

Android users can now use WhatsApp's Document Scanning feature. To access it, tap the attachment button, and select Scan Document. Point your camera at the document, and the app will it as a PDF that you can share with contacts. Document scanning is already available on iOS since April 2025.

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