In 2021, WhatsApp introduced View Once for photos and videos to enhance message privacy. Now, WhatsApp is excited to announce the rollout of View Once voice messages.
This feature allows users to send voice messages that disappear after being listened to, perfect for sharing sensitive information such as credit card details or surprises. Just like View Once photos and videos, these voice messages are marked with a “one-time” icon and can only be played once.
WhatsApp ensures the security of all personal messages with default end-to-end encryption, and View Once voice messages demonstrate our ongoing commitment to privacy innovation.
To send a view once photo, video, or voice message, you need to select the view once option each time. Once sent, these messages can only be viewed once and cannot be seen again. Recipients need to have read receipts enabled for you to know if they opened the message.
When you send view once media, it won’t be saved to the recipient’s Photos or Gallery, and they can’t take screenshots. However, recipients could use a separate device to capture the media before it disappears.
WhatsApp encrypts view once media, which may be stored on their servers for a few weeks after sending. If a recipient reports the media, WhatsApp may access it. Android users can use screen recording to capture view once voice messages and media.
Upon receiving view once media, you must open it within 14 days, or it will expire. You cannot forward, save, star, or share view once media. Backups can include unopened view once messages but not opened ones.
Lastly, screenshots of received view once media are not allowed. Always send view once content only to trusted individuals due to its temporary nature and potential for capture by other means.
