WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to access and share stories, posts, and reels from their Instagram and Facebook accounts directly inside the app.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature is available for both chats and status updates. Users need to link their WhatsApp account to Meta’s Accounts Center before they can use it.
The feature is currently available to some beta testers running the latest WhatsApp beta versions on Android and iOS. WhatsApp plans to expand access to more users over the coming weeks.
Instagram and Facebook Media Inside WhatsApp
WhatsApp introduced Accounts Center integration last year, allowing users to manage how their WhatsApp account interacts with other Meta platforms. Users who link their accounts can already enable cross-platform features such as sharing WhatsApp status updates to Instagram Stories or Facebook.
Accounts Center remains optional. WhatsApp says personal messages and calls continue to use end-to-end encryption whether users connect their accounts or not.
The latest update expands this integration by allowing users to access media from their Facebook and Instagram accounts without opening either app. Users can select photos, videos, stories, posts, and reels from their connected Meta accounts directly within WhatsApp.
How It Works
When users open WhatsApp’s media picker, they can switch to the list view to see available media sources on their device.
With the new update, Instagram and Facebook appear as additional media sources.
Users can tap the dropdown at the top of the media picker and switch between Instagram and Facebook to browse content shared on those platforms.
Stories, posts, and reels appear in a grid similar to WhatsApp’s existing media picker. Users can scroll through the grid and select a recent story, an older post, or a reel they previously published.
Works in Chats and Status Updates
WhatsApp is making the feature available across multiple parts of the app.
Users can select Instagram or Facebook media while creating a WhatsApp status update, allowing them to reuse content they previously shared on other Meta platforms.
The same media picker is also available inside conversations, meaning users can directly send Instagram or Facebook content in chats.
The Instagram and Facebook selection dropdown appears in both contexts.
Accounts Center Is Required
Users do not need to connect WhatsApp to Accounts Center if they prefer to keep their WhatsApp account separate from their other Meta accounts.
However, linking the accounts is required to access Instagram and Facebook content through WhatsApp.
If Accounts Center is not connected, Instagram and Facebook will not appear as media sources in the WhatsApp media picker.
The connection only works in one direction. Instagram and Facebook do not gain access to media stored in WhatsApp because WhatsApp keeps that media on the user’s device.
Availability
The feature is currently rolling out to some users running the latest WhatsApp beta updates on Android and iOS.
Not every beta tester will receive it immediately, and some users may need to wait for a future update.
WhatsApp has not announced when the feature will become available to all users.
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