Highlights

• WhatsApp rolls out View Once voice messages for single-use audio sharing.
• Feature includes a distinct icon for easy recognition and use.
• End-to-end encryption ensures privacy and security of messages.
• Additional upcoming features include Status Sharing to Instagram and Username Search.

Just when you thought you had seen it all over the past week with rumours and leaks, WhatsApp is back again with a new update.

Users of the world’s most popular messaging app would know there has been a “View Once” feature for photos and videos, for a while now.

Today, WhatsApp is completing the trifecta by adding audio into the fold.

View Once voice messages are now rolling out to users so that you can send audio that disappears after a single listen.

View Once Voice Messages

WhatsApp’s new feature will let users share sensitive information through voice messages with added confidence.

Whether it’s disclosing credit card details to a friend or planning a surprise, the View Once feature makes sure everything is heard only once.

As to how you can identify a View Once voice message, there is a distinct “one-time” icon, ensuring clarity and ease of use.

This feature is consistent with WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption policy, assuring that all personal messages, including these transient voice messages, remain secure and private.

How to Send View Once Voice Messages on WhatsApp

Sending a “View Once” voice message on WhatsApp is as simple as sending any other media with the same privacy setting.

Here’s a quick guide:

• Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat where you want to send a voice message.
• Press and slide up the mic icon next to the text box to access the audio message interface.
• Tap on the dotted circular icon marked with ‘1’.
• Record your message and send it. The message will disappear after it’s listened to once.

Upcoming WhatsApp Features: Status Sharing to Instagram and Username Search

In addition to the “View Once” voice message feature, WhatsApp is slated to get some other equally important updates.

The latest beta version for Android (2.23.25.20) has revealed a feature allowing users to share their WhatsApp Status directly to Instagram.

After unliking Facebook Messenger to Instagram Direct, Meta is certainly tightening the bond between the two major social platforms.

Furthermore, WhatsApp is preparing to make big changes in how users connect by introducing a unique username search feature.

This will enable users to find others on the platform without sharing their phone numbers, offering a new layer of privacy.

The choice to use this feature will be at the user’s discretion, adding flexibility and personalization to the app’s privacy settings.

Apart from all of this another test currently under development for WhatsApp, specifically for iPhone users, aims to enhance the screen-sharing capability during video calls by allowing the sharing of audio.

With this feature, users will be able to simultaneously listen to video and music audio when a screen is shared in a video call.

We don’t have to tell you how much of boon that would be to users who are doing a virtual gathering on the platform and want to listen to higher quality of audio.

FAQs

What is WhatsApp’s New View Once Voice Message Feature?

WhatsApp’s latest update introduces the View Once voice message feature, allowing users to send audio messages that disappear after being listened to once. This feature is designed for sharing sensitive information with added security.

How Can You Identify and Use View Once Voice Messages on WhatsApp?

View Once voice messages are marked with a distinct “one-time” icon. Users can send these messages by recording their audio in the chat, tapping the ‘1’ icon, and sending it. The message will automatically vanish after a single listen.

What Privacy Measures Does WhatsApp Ensure with This New Feature?

Consistent with WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption policy, View Once voice messages provide a secure way to share private information. The messages remain encrypted, ensuring only the intended recipient can listen to them once.

What Other New Features are Coming to WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is also developing features to enhance user experience, such as sharing WhatsApp Status directly to Instagram and a new username search feature.

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.

What is another new feature that WhatsApp is developing for iPhone users?

WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow iPhone users to share their audio while screen-sharing during video calls. This feature enables participants in a video call to listen to video and music audio together in real-time.

Also Read: WhatsApp Expands ‘View Once’ Feature to Desktop and Web Versions

Also Read: WhatsApp Gears Up to Launch Channel Forwarding Feature on Android

Also Read: WhatsApp To Soon Introduce Feature to Post Status Directly to Instagram Story

Also Read: WhatsApp To Reportedly Introduce Username Search for Enhanced Connectivity