# WhatsApp tests Meta AI photo expansion for iPhone beta users

Digest AI · Marketing & Small Business · published 2026-11-05T10:30:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/whatsapp-tests-meta-ai-photo-expansion-for-iphone-beta-users

## Summary

WhatsApp is currently testing a Meta AI feature that allows iPhone users to expand photos to fit new aspect ratios, according to feature tracker WABetaInfo. The tool is available to select iOS beta testers who install updates via Apple’s TestFlight app. Android users received this capability earlier in the WhatsApp beta version 2.26.44.8. The feature enables Meta AI to extend the edges of an image so it fits a 9:16 frame, even if the original photo is square or landscape. The quality of the expansion relies on the amount of background context present in the original image.

The option appears within the existing drawing editor, integrating seamlessly into the standard editing workflow. WhatsApp displays the tool only when the photo is not already in a supported format. The company has not announced a specific timeline for a wider release or identified which regions will receive the update first. This development follows previous Meta AI integrations in WhatsApp, including AI image generation for status updates launched in October 2025 and tests for AI-made profile photos and group icons on iOS.

As the tool remains in beta, WhatsApp may modify it before a general launch. Users interested in trying the feature must have access to the latest beta build through TestFlight, which is limited to select accounts. This move continues Meta’s broader strategy of embedding AI capabilities across its messaging and social platforms.

## Key points

- WhatsApp tests Meta AI photo expansion for iPhone beta testers via TestFlight.
- The tool extends images to fit 9:16 frames, building on earlier Android beta access.
- WhatsApp has not confirmed a release date or specific regions for the wider rollout.

## Why it matters

This expands Meta’s AI footprint in consumer messaging, offering practical editing tools that enhance user engagement on WhatsApp. It signals a continued push to integrate generative AI into everyday communication apps.

## Sources

1. [WhatsApp Tests Meta AI Photo Expansion Feature for iPhone Users](https://analyticsinsight.net/news/whatsapp-tests-meta-ai-photo-expansion-feature-for-iphone-users) (analyticsinsight.net, 2026-11-05)

## Cite

Digest AI, "WhatsApp tests Meta AI photo expansion for iPhone beta users", 5 November 2026, https://digestai.news/story/whatsapp-tests-meta-ai-photo-expansion-for-iphone-beta-users

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