Overview
- The new Reels button began appearing for a subset of Android beta users in late October inside WhatsApp beta 2.26.42.9, according to reports.
- The shortcut opens a dedicated picker that shows three tabs—Recents, Saved and Liked—so users can browse Instagram Reels they recently watched, saved or liked and send them directly in chats.
- Access to the shortcut is gated by an optional link to Meta's Accounts Center, so only users who connect their WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook accounts will see the Reels button.
- WhatsApp says the shortcut is meant to make Reels more discoverable by cutting the extra steps previously required to find Instagram content through the media picker, but the company has not announced a wider rollout or iOS timing.
- The change builds on earlier in‑app access to Instagram and Facebook media and signals tighter cross‑app integration at Meta, a move that could make sharing faster for users and raise choices about account linking and privacy.