Have you ever wanted to send images and videos that you would prefer not to keep in the chat window of WhatsApp? If yes, WhatsApp will soon add what you are looking for. After confirming the feature in an interview recently, WhatsApp has started rolling out the option to send disappearing photos and videos to beta testers on Android. This new feature is called “View Once,” and here’s how you can use it to send photos and videos that self-destruct once they are viewed in WhatsApp.
Before getting started, it’s worth mentioning that the “View Once” mode is available only for beta testers at the time of writing this article. Hence, you may not immediately see the feature on your device. However, we could expect WhatsApp to roll out the feature to all users in the coming weeks.
- What is View Once Mode in WhatsApp?
- Disappearing Messages vs View Once Mode in WhatsApp
- Steps to Send “View Once” Photos/ Videos in WhatsApp
What is “View Once” Mode in WhatsApp?
View Once is a new WhatsApp feature that lets users privately exchange images and videos. Media sent using View once mode will disappear after the recipient has viewed it. Based on my testing, you can see if the recipient has opened the image even if you have disabled read receipts. However, there are a few caveats you should keep in mind before using the feature. View Once mode is not as private as one might assume.
Once you have sent an image or video in View Once mode, you (sender) can’t open it from the conversation page. However, if you send an image by accident, you can delete the message for everyone before the recipient manages to open it.
You might now be wondering that WhatsApp already has an option to send disappearing messages. And yeah, it does. So, what makes the new View Once feature different from disappearing messages? That’s what we will explore in this section.
Now that you have an idea about the new View Once feature and how it works, here’s how to use it in personal chats and groups:
- When you are on the page that lets you write a caption before sending the photo or video, tap on the new “View Once” button present at the bottom right corner of the chatbox. The icon will turn green once you have enabled it.
Send Self-Destructing Photos and Videos in WhatsApp
So, that’s how you use the new View Once feature to send expiring photos and videos on WhatsApp. Since the feature doesn’t have a screenshot blocking or detection mechanism, I would not recommend using it for exchanging private images or videos. However, it could come in handy for other images that are not sensitive in nature. To learn about more such cool WhatsApp features, go through our articles on how to mute archived chats forever on WhatsApp and recharge your Jio number using WhatsApp.
