What you need to know
- The ability to share content to WhatsApp using the Windows share button was recently rolled out to Channel Insiders in beta.
- Few apps support the Windows share button.
- In contrast, many apps on iOS and Android integrate with similar functionality on those operating systems.
Recent Insider builds of Windows 11 have highlighted the sad state of the relationship between developers and Microsoft. Windows 11 build 22635.2850 recently shipped to Insiders in the beta channel and includes the option to share content to WhatsApp through the Windows share button. This feature allows you to share websites and other content with some apps with just a few clicks, but very few apps support this feature.
Some Microsoft apps like Skype, Outlook, and LinkedIn work with share buttons. Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) also support this feature. However, quite a few apps, such as Telegram and Microsoft Edge’s Drop feature, are not integrated with a share button.
This feature is officially called the “Using Sharing” section in Microsoft’s blog post about adding WhatsApp support and build 22635.2850.
The battle between Microsoft and developers
A few years ago, Microsoft made it possible for apps to integrate with share buttons. It’s not like the company just rolled out this feature. The support documentation outlining how to add this feature indicates that the process is fairly simple. So why did it take us so long to start testing WhatsApp support through the share button? Ask Meta. It is the developer’s responsibility to add the necessary code to the app.
The fact that share button support is currently in testing stage is sad. Similar functionality has been available on iOS and Android for years. You can blame Microsoft for not being as convincing as Apple or Google, or you can blame Meta and other companies for not adopting new features in Windows, but the reality is the same. Developers aren’t looking to take advantage of Windows 11’s capabilities to anywhere near the same level as they do with iOS or Android.
Windows 11 build 22635.2850, which introduced the option to share via WhatsApp, shipped to Beta Channel Insiders on December 8, 2023. This addition started a conversation on Reddit about the Windows share button.
“Why are share buttons useless?” asked Reddit user Beautiful_Car8681. It added: “There are many other programs (Telegram, Discord) where sharing functionality is not available, and even basic features like Bluetooth and Drop (the latter shares files between desktop and Android) are not available.” Ta.
They ask good questions, especially when it comes to Microsoft-specific features. Why should Meta and other companies care about integrating with share buttons when some Microsoft apps don’t support them?