WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature to preserve original quality of photos and videos

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature on iOS that allows users to share photos and videos as documents to preserve their original quality.

The feature was spotted being tested by a small subset of users in November but is now being released to all iOS users. To access the feature, tap the “+” in chat, select “Document,” and then “Choose Photo or Video.” Once sent, recipients can tap into the file on WhatsApp to view photos and videos, but previews don’t seem to appear in the main chat interface. There’s a 2GB limit on the files that can be sent using the feature.

WhatsApp has also been testing the same feature for Android users since at least September this year, which suggests a stable release for Android devices may not be too far behind.

Previous workarounds have existed to send full-resolution photos and videos via WhatsApp that involved manually changing its file extension to PDF or DOC. Removing that extra work streamlines things considerably for users, providing an easier way to share high-quality media alongside the HD Pictures update that WhatsApp released this summer.

We have reached out to WhatsApp to clarify when Android users can expect the same update and will update this article if we hear back.