WhatsApp Rolls Out Meta AI Photo Expansion Tool to Select iPhone Beta Users

WhatsApp Brings AI-Powered Photo Expansion to iPhone Beta Testers

WhatsApp is testing a Meta AI photo expansion tool for select iPhone users, marking another step in the platform's integration of artificial intelligence features1

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. The feature, currently available to WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.44.10.16 testers through Apple's TestFlight programme, allows users to expand photos directly within the messaging app before sharing them3

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. This development comes after Android beta testers gained access to the same functionality in the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.44.8 update4

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How the In-App Drawing Editor Feature Works

The AI-powered photo expansion tool integrates seamlessly into WhatsApp's existing editing workflow. When iOS users select a photo from their chats, WhatsApp opens the drawing editor where they can access various AI effects1

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. The new expand option sits alongside these existing tools, making it easy to find. After tapping the expand tool, Meta AI analyzes the photo and generates an expanded version within seconds3

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. The platform converts images into a vertical 9:16 format by adding fresh details beyond the original borders, creating what appears to be a natural continuation of the original scene2

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Expand Photos with Meta AI: Control and Flexibility

WhatsApp maintains user control throughout the image editing process. Nothing leaves your phone until you hit send, ensuring you always get a preview first2

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. If the generative AI result doesn't meet expectations, users can tap an undo button to revert to the original photo and generate a completely new take1

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. This flexibility allows for unlimited retries, giving users the freedom to experiment until they achieve the desired result. The app does not automatically send the expanded image once Meta AI finishes processing, instead previewing the result to help users decide whether to share it3

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Status Updates and Broader Applications

The photo expansion feature extends beyond individual and group conversations. WhatsApp for iPhone users can also apply this tool to status updates, making it easier to share landscape and square photos in full-screen format without switching between apps3

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. This functionality addresses a common pain point for users who previously needed third-party image-editing apps to properly format photos for status updates2

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. The feature proves particularly useful for people with older iPhones that don't support Apple's Extend feature, which arrived with iOS 27 and requires Siri AI capabilities2

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Technical Limitations and Availability for TestFlight Users

WhatsApp hides the expansion option for pictures that already fit the supported frame, meaning the tool appears primarily for square or landscape images that need conversion to the 9:16 format2

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. A 1:1 square image serves as a reliable test case to check whether the feature is available on an account4

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. The quality of the expanded result depends on how much context the original photo provides, with images containing plenty of background giving Meta AI more material to work with4

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. Currently, availability remains limited as WhatsApp gradually rolls out the feature to more accounts within the beta program3

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Part of Meta's Broader AI Integration Strategy

This photo expansion tool represents the latest addition to Meta's growing suite of AI features for WhatsApp. The platform began rolling out AI image generation for status updates in October 2025, where users type a prompt and Meta AI creates several variations4

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. WhatsApp has also tested AI-created profile photos and group icons on iOS, demonstrating Meta's commitment to embedding artificial intelligence across its messaging platform4

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. As with most WhatsApp beta for iOS features, there's no confirmed timeline for when the photo expansion tool might become widely available to all users, though the fact that it has reached both Android and some public iOS version users suggests a broader rollout may not be too far off1

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