WhatsApp Tests Recent Media Suggestions to Speed Up Photo Sharing in Chats

WhatsApp is introducing a new update designed to make sharing photos and videos quicker by surfacing recently saved media directly inside conversations. The feature, called Recent Media Suggestions, lets users reach their latest gallery items without opening the gallery or hunting for files manually, according to details shared about the rollout.

The capability is being released gradually to Android and iPhone users who are running the latest version of the app. Once active, WhatsApp can automatically display a user's most recent photo or video the moment a conversation is opened, reducing the number of taps needed to send a file.

The update appears in two different forms, and each user will reportedly see only one of them. In the first version, a small notification appears above the message bar showing a thumbnail of the most recent gallery item alongside an option to share it. In the second version, WhatsApp temporarily replaces the camera icon beside the message bar with a thumbnail of the latest saved photo or video.

Importantly, tapping a suggestion does not send anything immediately. Instead, WhatsApp opens its built-in media editor, where users can review the file, add a caption, insert stickers or make other adjustments before sharing. Users can also exit the editor without sending, which helps prevent accidental sharing. The suggestion itself can be dismissed using a close button, and users can simply ignore it and keep chatting as normal.

The feature works with any recently saved gallery item, including photos taken with the camera, screenshots, downloaded images and videos saved from other applications. Because the rollout is staged, not every user will see the suggestions right away, and availability will depend on the app version installed on a device.