WhatsApp Tests Reels Button for Instagram Videos
Meta is testing a new WhatsApp feature that lets users share recent, saved, or liked Instagram Reels directly inside chat conversations without switching apps, onlinemarketing.de reported. The integration aims to streamline sharing for short-form video content that Meta handles at a massive scale. According to figures published by Meta in May 2026, Instagram users share Reels more than 4.5 billion times every day.
The new shortcut appears inside the attachment menu of WhatsApp chats and pulls media from three specific categories. Users can tap into “Recents” to view recently watched clips, “Saved” for bookmarked videos, and “Liked” for posts marked with a heart icon. WhatsApp began integrating Instagram and Facebook content into its media picker last September, but that process previously required users to open their phone galleries and manually select Instagram as the source.
Meta Links WhatsApp and Instagram Profiles for Reels
The tool requires users to connect their WhatsApp and Instagram profiles through Meta’s Accounts Center. Accounts kept separate will not display the Reels button. Meta recently introduced a unified Meta account management system designed to tie its various social applications closer together.
The shortcut is currently rolling out exclusively to select testers running Android beta version 2.26.42.9. Meta is also experimenting with a Reels-first home interface on Instagram that places short videos ahead of standard grid posts from followed accounts when users first open the application.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Instagram Integration
* Do I need to link my accounts to use WhatsApp? No. Connecting Instagram and WhatsApp through the Accounts Center is entirely voluntary, though declining the link means the Reels button will not appear in your chats.
* Which operating systems currently support the beta feature? The feature is rolling out to select participants testing Android beta version 2.26.42.9.
* Where do the shared videos come from? The shortcut accesses three distinct folders from your connected Instagram profile: recently watched videos, saved posts, and liked content.
More on Instagram Reels
**Verified.** The screenshot matches recent WhatsApp updates rolling out a dedicated Reels button in the bottom nav (green filmstrip + play icon between Calls and Chats). It lets users watch Instagram Reels directly in WhatsApp without switching apps—part of Meta’s push to…
WhatsApp introduces a new shortcut to share Reels in chats!Users who linked their WhatsApp account to Accounts Center can easily share Instagram Reels from the chat attachment menu.https://t.co/QArJy5U3ej pic.twitter.com/JT55Plk0wp
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