WhatsApp is working on view-once text messages for iPhone
WhatsApp will finally bring the view-once option to text messages on iPhone, extending a feature that already exists for photos, videos, and voice notes. Once available, users will be able to send text messages that become inaccessible after the recipient reads them once. The feature will also prevent these messages from being forwarded or saved for added privacy.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | View-once option for text messages |
| Status: | Under development |
| Availability info: | This feature is currently in development, and it is not available for beta testing. In the meantime, check out this article for a sneak peek. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp is rolling out group voice and video calls on the Web! |
WhatsApp to test view-once option for text messages on Android
In our post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.22.7 update, we announced that the view-once option for text messages was under development. With this functionality, users will be able to send messages that the recipient can only open once before they disappear. The view-once option is already available for photos, videos, and voice notes, offering a layer of privacy for media shared in the conversation. Expanding it to text messages is the next step that will give users more control over the information they share.
WhatsApp to expand view-once option for text messages to iOS
Following the Android development, WhatsApp is finally exploring the same functionality for the iOS app. We discovered the news with the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.24.10.16 update, which is available on TestFlight. Specifically, WhatsApp is working on the feature that lets users share text messages with the view-once option.
How the view-once option will work for text messages on WhatsApp
After typing a message in the chat bar, users will be able to set the view-once option by long-pressing the Send button. This action will present a dropdown menu with the option "Send as view once". Once sent, the recipient can open the message once before it becomes inaccessible. The feature will be available in both individual chats and groups, making the experience familiar to anyone who has already used view-once for photos or videos. However, it won't be available in channels, where the nature of broadcast communication makes ephemeral messages unsuitable.
View-once text messages come with strong privacy protections
Text messages shared with the view-once option will benefit from the same privacy safeguards already in place for photos, videos, and voice notes. This means that the recipient will not be able to copy, forward, or share the message after receiving it. WhatsApp will also block screenshots and screen recordings to prevent the content from being preserved in any form. While someone could still capture the message using a second device, WhatsApp minimizes this risk by restricting all in-app actions as much as possible.
Users have been relying on workarounds while waiting for this feature
Until now, users who wanted to share temporary text had no native way to do so directly in WhatsApp. As a workaround, many users would include their message as a caption on an image and send it using the existing view-once option. This workaround allowed them to simulate ephemeral text sharing, even though it was technically delivered as a photo. The upcoming feature will finally offer a dedicated solution for this issue. This will make it easier for users to share messages that disappear as soon as the recipient opens them.
View-once text messages will expand WhatsApp's privacy toolkit
The view-once option for text messages will give users more control over their privacy. WhatsApp already offers disappearing messages, end-to-end encryption, and view-once media as part of its privacy features. Adding the same level of protection to text messages addresses a limitation that many users have noticed for some time. It makes the view-once feature more complete and consistent across all content types available in a conversation.
WhatsApp is developing view-once option for text messages for a future iOS update
The feature that allows users to share text messages with the view-once option is currently under development. This feature is not available to users yet, and it is not enabled for beta testers at this stage. WhatsApp has not announced an official timeline for its release. However, the view-once option for text messages will be available to beta testers in a future update before rolling out in the stable version.
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