WhatsApp Now Lets You Send Photos and Video in Original Quality

WhatsApp is rolling out a new option that lets users on iPhone share photos and video over the messaging platform in their original quality.

Whatsapp Feature
As spotted by WABetaInfo, the official changelog included with WhatsApp's 23.24.73 update on the App Store says that users can now "easily send original quality media as a file."

The update follows a recent feature addition that lets WhatsApp users send media in high resolution or "HD quality." While that was an improvement that addressed the service's low quality media sharing limitation, it still involves compression.

whatsapp share media files
WhatsApp's latest feature avoids compression altogether by allowing photos and video to be shared as files, thereby preserving their original quality. WhatsApp's changelog adds that the new option is rolling out "over the coming weeks," so some users may not immediately see it on their device.

  1. Open an existing chat in WhatsApp or start a new one.
  2. Tap the + icon, left of the text input field.
  3. Tap Document ➝ Choose Photo or Video.
  4. Choose the media that you want to send, then confirm by tapping the blue arrow. Note the 2GB limit on the files that can be sent using the feature.

whatsapp

When the files are sent, previews of the media are not shown in the chat window, but the recipient can tap the files to view them. WhatsApp has also been testing the same feature for Android, although there isn't any further information about when it will become available.

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching. In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...

Top Rated Comments

Kylo83 Avatar
28 months ago
Yeah it’s been there for ages doing that it’s not new, not sure why they now put it in the release notes
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Populus Avatar
28 months ago
I wonder when we’ll be finally able to use usernames instead of our phone number… I don’t like to share my number with anyone I want to text with.

I know the feature is planned, but it seems it’s taking longer than expected.

I’d gladly use Telegram but here in my country few people use it.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
28 months ago
This could already be done for a while, by choosing to send a Document > File and then attaching an original uncompressed photo or video.

How is this different?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
infinitedreams Avatar
28 months ago

Yeah it’s been there for ages doing that it’s not new, not sure why they now put it in the release notes
They've been too busy fixing a slowdown bug in the last 5 updates.



Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Seanm87 Avatar
28 months ago
Why don't they, I don't know, just share the original image like how it is on iMessage?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechRemarker Avatar
28 months ago

Kind of a weird implementation. It's not obvious to choose "Documents" on an intuitive level. It should just be an option upon selecting photos/video.

Also, I really hope that someday they move the "typing" indicator to a more natural spot like other messenger apps. Meaning, at the bottom of the chat. The eye is already naturally down there.
Agreed. Though when sharing the normal photo method it strips all meta data using the document method includes meta data so they probably don’t want that the default. Would love it to work the normal way but just an option per contact on whether to include the meta data.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)