What is WhatsApp View Once? The disappearing picture feature explained

WhatsApp is post-obit in the footsteps of Snapchat, offer users the chance to send photos and videos that disappear after viewing

As anyone who likes to send photos and videos over WhatsApp knows, y'all're bound to end upwardly with multiple copies of the same photo sitting in your message feeds, taking upwardly valuable storage infinite and merely mostly getting in the manner.

WhatsApp is introducing a mode to get around that issue, with the View Once feature. The media sent beyond volition disappear after information technology's been viewed, meaning there won't exist whatsoever annoying copies of old videos, and you have more than control over your privacy.

As with all direct messaging on WhatsApp, the media will withal be protected by end-to-cease encryption so even WhatsApp itself tin't see what yous're sending beyond.

This feature can be used for more sensitive information, such as a photo of an interview password, or a spur of the moment reaction, similar sending someone a photo of something y'all've establish in a store, zero that needs to be kept forever.

Media sent with the View Once characteristic will exist clearly marked with a new 'one-time' icon, and later the message has been viewed information technology will announced equally 'opened' and so there's no confusion about if the bulletin has been received and seen. However, you will only see if someone's opened the media if they already have their read receipts turned on.

You lot will besides not exist notified if someone takes a screenshot or a recording of the media you send, so there's of course even so some risk involved.

To send media over as View Once, you demand to select View Once media each time you transport over some other photo or video. And if your message isn't opened within 14 days of it being sent, the media will expire from the chat.

The feature volition be rolled out this week, then continue an center out for the new feature and brand sure yous endeavor it out.