| Field | What we found / documented |
|---|---|
| Normal photo send | Compressed; metadata commonly stripped |
| Send "as a document" | Can preserve more of the original file, per WhatsApp help materials |
| C2PA Content Credentials | Not a standard part of WhatsApp’s photo pipeline |
| Best way to confirm current behavior | Send a test file both ways and inspect each result |
WhatsApp is a useful contrast to feed-based platforms because it explicitly documents two different send paths with different fidelity: the default photo/video share, which compresses and typically drops metadata, and the "send as document" option, intended for files that need to stay unmodified.
If you received a WhatsApp image and need to know whether it retains original metadata, check which send method was used, then inspect the actual file with our metadata viewer. Do not assume based on the app alone; the two paths behave differently.
Questions this page answers
Does an empty metadata result mean the image is not from WhatsApp?
No. A missing field can mean the metadata was never written, was stripped by an export or upload step, or was not inspected by this tool. Treat it as inconclusive, not as proof either way.
Does this page verify a specific image is from WhatsApp?
No. It describes documented or observed behavior for WhatsApp in general. To evaluate one file, inspect it with our metadata viewer and Content Credentials marker inspector and weigh the result alongside other context.