Highlights
- WhatsApp introduces ‘View Once’ feature for desktop and web applications.
- The feature allows sending photos and videos that disappear after a single view.
- Available on WhatsApp Web, Windows, and macOS with the latest app versions.
- Enhances privacy, but recipients can still capture content via screenshots or recordings.
WhatsApp has upgraded its desktop and web versions by integrating what it is calling the ‘View Once’ functionality.
This was a feature that was previously exclusive to its mobile application only but now it is coming to a more diverse set of platforms
This update, highlighted by WABetaInfo, allows users to send photos and videos that vanish after a single viewing in the chat.
Kind of like Snapchat or the messages you sent on Instagram’s DMs.
To access it on the desktop or web application, users will just need to select the ‘View Once’ icon, which is very conveniently located above the send button, after capturing a photo or video.
This will basically ensure that the media is sent in a single-view mode, meaning, as mentioned above, the recipient can view it just once before it disappears from the chat.
Although the feature enhances privacy by not saving the media in the chat, it’s important to note that recipients can still capture the content through screenshots or screen recordings.
This is not like Snapchat, where the user either cannot take a screen grab or the sender is notified if there is one.
The presence of ‘View Once’ media is still indicated in the chat, even after it has been viewed.
Initially rolled out on WhatsApp’s mobile application in 2021, the feature was briefly available on desktop clients but was removed for privacy concerns.
Its re-introduction to WhatsApp’s desktop apps signifies the platform’s ongoing commitment to expanding user experience across different devices.
The latest versions of WhatsApp Web, Windows, and macOS applications will gradually receive this feature in the upcoming weeks.
FAQs
What is the ‘View Once’ feature on WhatsApp?
The ‘View Once’ feature on WhatsApp lets users send photos and videos that can be viewed only once by the recipient. After being opened, these media files disappear from the chat and are not saved.
On which platforms is the ‘View Once’ feature now available?
Initially available on WhatsApp’s mobile version, the ‘View Once’ feature has now been extended to desktop and web platforms, including WhatsApp Web, Windows, and macOS.
How can users access the ‘View Once’ feature on WhatsApp’s desktop version?
To use the ‘View Once’ feature on WhatsApp’s desktop version, users need to select the ‘View Once’ icon located above the send button after capturing a photo or video. This ensures the media is sent in a single-view mode.
Are there any privacy concerns with the ‘View Once’ feature?
While the ‘View Once’ feature enhances privacy by ensuring photos and videos disappear after viewing, recipients can still capture the content through screenshots or screen recordings. It’s important to be mindful of this when using the feature.