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WhatsApp is rolling out its View Once feature for text messages to select Android beta users. The update extends a privacy option that was previously available for photos, videos, and voice notes. The feature lets users send a written message that the recipient can open only once. After the recipient views it, the message disappears from the chat window.
Users can activate the option while sending a text. They need to type the message, long-press the green send button, and select View Once from the menu.
The recipient must open the message in a separate interface rather than seeing it directly in the chat. This design keeps one-time texts distinct from regular messages.
WhatsApp has designed the feature to restrict screenshots, screen recording, copying, forwarding, and saving. However, users should still treat it as a privacy convenience rather than an absolute security guarantee.
The feature is currently visible to some participants in WhatsApp’s Android beta program. It has been spotted lay.
Why it Matters
The addition could make WhatsApp more useful for sharing sensitive information. Users may find it useful for sharing passwords, one-time passwords, addresses, account details, and other private information. Until now, View Once was applied mainly to media files. Bringing the same control to text messages closes an important gap, since written details often remain in a chat history indefinitely. WhatsApp did not share an official announcement or a release date for the stable version. For now, the feature’s arrival marks another step in the platform’s effort to give users more control over sensitive conversations