WhatsApp Introduces View Once Feature for Text Messages

WhatsApp has announced that it will extend the self-destructing image feature, available since 2021, to text messages. Users will soon have the option to send messages with the "View Once" feature. These messages will disappear once the recipient has read them and cannot be copied, forwarded, or saved. The new feature is currently being tested in the beta version for Android, specifically in version 2.26.22.7. Users can activate the view once feature by tapping the corresponding button in the chat bar before sending.

The message will then be sent to the recipient in a concealed manner and will not be directly visible in the chat. An additional icon, a circle with the number 1, will be displayed next to the message to indicate to the recipient that it is a view once message. To read the message, the recipient must tap on it. This feature is intended to enhance privacy, especially when sharing confidential information. As with images and videos sent with the view once feature, the ability to take screenshots while viewing text messages will also be disabled.

This is to prevent the recipient from circumventing the view once feature. However, it remains possible to take a photo of the screen, which presents a potential security loophole. The view once feature is currently only available for photos, videos, and voice messages. WhatsApp plans to roll out this feature for text messages soon, but there is no exact timeline for the official launch yet. Beta testers currently cannot use the feature, indicating that development is still ongoing.

The introduction of this feature could change the way users communicate on WhatsApp, particularly regarding privacy. The ability to send messages that disappear after being read could be attractive to many users who value privacy. WhatsApp has previously introduced several features to enhance privacy, including the ability to encrypt messages and control the status of contacts. The view once feature for text messages could be another measure to give users more control over their communication. The development of this feature is being tracked by the platform WABetaInfo, which regularly reports on new features and updates.

The rollout of the view once feature for text messages could occur sometime in 2026, although the exact details are still unknown. In recent years, WhatsApp has increasingly focused on privacy to meet user demands. The view once feature for text messages could be another step in this direction to provide users with a secure communication environment. The beta version in which the first hints of the new feature were discovered shows that WhatsApp is actively working on the further development of its platform. Users can look forward to what other features will be available in the future. The current beta version for Android is 2.26.22.7, where the first hints of the view once feature for text messages were discovered.