WhatsApp tests importing profile photos from Instagram and Facebook

The messaging app WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has begun testing a new feature that allows users to import profile pictures directly from Instagram and Facebook. This was reported by the WABetaInfo portal, which discovered the innovation in the beta version of the Android app (version 2.25.21.74). The feature, aimed at simplifying profile personalization, is part of Meta's strategy to integrate its platforms.

Details of the New Feature

The new option expands the current methods of setting a profile picture in WhatsApp, which include:

• Taking a photo using the camera
• Selecting an image from the device gallery
• Generating an image using artificial intelligence (AI)
• Creating an avatar

Now, users will additionally be able to choose photos from Instagram or Facebook, provided their accounts are linked through Meta's Accounts Center. The process works as follows:

1. The user goes to WhatsApp profile settings and selects “Edit Photo.”
2. The menu displays new options — “Import from Instagram” and “Import from Facebook.”
3. After choosing a platform and confirming, the image is automatically synced with the WhatsApp profile.

This feature eliminates the need to manually download photos from other apps or use screenshots, which often reduce image quality. It's especially useful for users who want a consistent visual identity across all Meta platforms or who have lost access to the original image on their device.

Requirements and Privacy

To use the import feature, users must link their WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook accounts through the Meta Accounts Center — a centralized platform for managing Meta accounts. Key points include:

• Optional: The feature is off by default, and users decide whether to activate the integration.
• Privacy: Meta emphasizes that account syncing does not affect WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption for messages and calls. Chat data remains protected, and the feature only affects optional profile settings.
• Security: The integration does not grant access to message content or other data unrelated to the profile photo.

However, in Russia, use of this feature may be limited due to the ban on Meta’s services, including Instagram and Facebook, which are classified as extremist organizations.

Current Status and Prospects

The profile photo import feature has been spotted in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android (build 2.25.21.74) and is already available to a limited group of beta testers enrolled in the Google Play Beta Program. It is expected that more testers will gain access in the coming weeks. The release date for the stable version has not yet been announced.

Meta is actively working on integrating its platforms. Earlier in 2025, WhatsApp introduced the ability to post statuses to Instagram Stories and Facebook via the Meta Accounts Center, and added a WhatsApp button for business accounts on Instagram. The new profile photo import feature continues this strategy by streamlining interaction between the apps.

Currently, the feature is being tested only on Android, but it is likely to appear in the iOS version in the future. However, Meta may suspend testing or cancel the release if technical or legal issues arise.

Prospects and Challenges

The profile photo import feature is part of Meta’s global strategy to create a unified ecosystem where users can easily share content between platforms. Among the advantages:

• Simplified profile setup
• Consistent visual identity across services
• Convenience for users who lost their original photos

However, challenges remain:

• Legal restrictions: In Russia and other countries where Meta is banned, the feature may be unavailable
• Privacy concerns: Despite Meta’s assurances, account integration raises questions about metadata collection
• Technical stability: Beta testing may reveal bugs that delay the release

Future updates will likely expand the integration, potentially adding avatar syncing or cross-posting of other content. Meta also plans to enhance the Meta Accounts Center by adding features such as AI sticker management and more.

Conclusion

WhatsApp’s new feature for importing profile photos from Instagram and Facebook simplifies personalization and strengthens platform integration within Meta. Discovered in the Android beta version (2.25.21.74), it is already available to some testers, though a global release date remains unknown. Despite Meta’s privacy assurances, the feature requires account linking through the Meta Accounts Center, which is complicated in Russia due to the ban on Instagram and Facebook. This innovation highlights Meta’s ambition to create a unified digital ecosystem, but its success will depend on resolving technical, legal, and ethical challenges, especially in countries with restrictions on the company’s operations.