Overview
- WhatsApp began a staged beta rollout of view-once text messages to selected Android testers in version 2.26.45.6, according to reports from Thursday.
- Senders enable the option by typing a message, pressing and holding the send button, and choosing "View Once," with a first-time tutorial shown in the chat.
- When opened, a view-once text appears in a separate screen, disappears after the recipient closes it, and is marked as opened for the sender if read receipts are on.
- The app prevents copying, forwarding, saving, screenshots, and screen recordings while the message is viewed inside WhatsApp but cannot stop someone from photographing or filming the screen externally.
- The rollout is limited to Android beta users via the Google Play Store, the feature cannot yet be scheduled, and WhatsApp has not announced a public release date or iOS availability.