May 22, 2026, 6:07 am | Read time: 3 minutes
WhatsApp is working on a new interface for photo selection on the iPhone. The change aims to simplify the current process of sharing images and videos. Users will need to open the full gallery less often when they want to quickly send recent photos.
New Preview Directly in Chat
Until now, WhatsApp has taken iPhone users through several steps to share a photo. After opening a chat, the plus symbol must first be selected. Then, users proceed to the photos and videos section before they can search for the desired image. This process can seem relatively cumbersome, especially for spontaneous shots or quick replies.
Android users have been able to access a simplified attachment menu since the end of 2025. Now, WhatsApp seems to be preparing this change for the iPhone as well. According to the online magazine “WABetaInfo,” the app is introducing a new media view with iOS version 26.19.75.
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WhatsApp Shows Recent Photos Faster
The new interface directly displays a preview of the most recently saved photos and videos. This allows users to access current content more quickly without having to open the entire gallery first. At the same time, the new view is designed to better integrate into the revamped WhatsApp interface. The preview consists of a row with four elements. The content is sorted by time, so recent shots appear first. To share a photo or video, users can simply tap the desired content and add it to the chat.
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Multiple files can also be sent more easily with the new view. A long press on a preview image starts a multi-selection, allowing additional photos or videos to be marked. This often eliminates the need to switch to the full gallery. Sharing multiple recent images could thus be faster.
Fewer Interruptions While Typing
The change is primarily intended to simplify the process within a chat. Users can insert a photo into an ongoing conversation more quickly without significantly interrupting the discussion. This can be helpful in conversations about meetings, orders, or joint projects.
Spontaneous replies with photos or videos can also be sent more quickly. The focus is not on a completely new function, but on easier operation of a feature that is frequently used in WhatsApp. The new media preview is apparently being rolled out gradually. Therefore, simply installing iOS version 26.19.75 does not always make the change immediately visible.
WhatsApp is also distributing the new features server-side. As a result, the new view may already be available to some users, while others, despite having the same app version, still see the previous attachment menu. Those who do not yet see the new preview will have to wait until WhatsApp expands the rollout.