WhatsApp is finally rolling out the ability to send view once photos and videos from desktop apps, a feature initially removed exactly one year ago. This feature was released in the past few weeks to some users who install the latest updates of their preferred desktop app or in case they use the latest build of WhatsApp Web.
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Send view-once photos and videos |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | Latest versions of WhatsApp Web, WhatsApp for Windows, and WhatsApp for macOS, are compatible updates. |
| I have updated my version of WhatsApp but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some users and it’s rolling out to more people over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | Traiti, Sc, Hypogriff, Spencer, shw_9876, and Saadh Jawwadh, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.25.11: what’s new? WhatsApp is working on a feature to show the profile info in our chats! |
SEND VIEW ONCE
Exactly one year ago, we posted news regarding view once messages on desktop apps. Specifically, WhatsApp decided to remove the ability to send and open view once photos and videos from WhatsApp Web and Desktop for added privacy. However, the removal of support for sending view once messages from desktop apps seemed unnecessary, limiting users from sharing ephemeral photos and videos. In the past few weeks, it appears that WhatsApp decided to bring back support for sending view once photos and videos to all their desktop apps!
As you can see in this screenshot, WhatsApp decided to restore the ability to send view once messages in the past few weeks. In particular, the button to set the image as a view once message is available within the caption bar in the drawing editor on WhatsApp for Windows. It’s important to mention that the news is not limited to WhatsApp for Windows, as WhatsApp also enabled support for sending view once messages from WhatsApp for macOS and linked devices (specifically, from WhatsApp beta for iPad) in the past few weeks. Recently, the ability to send view once photos and videos has also been released on WhatsApp Web, expanding the feature’s availability across various platforms.
In our opinion, restoring the ability to send view once messages from Desktop apps is very beneficial for users. This reintroduction finally allows users to send photos and videos that can be viewed only once, preventing them from being stored in the device’s memory and offering a better level of privacy. This feature ensures that sensitive or temporary content remains ephemeral even when sending it from a desktop app, enhancing user control over shared media. The inability to send view once messages from desktop apps garnered significant user complaints last year, highlighting the importance of this feature. We believe that the decision to restore the ability to send view once messages confirms WhatsApp’s dedication to adapt and respond to user feedback, underscoring user-centricity in their updates.
The feature to send view once photos and videos from Desktop apps is available to some users who install the latest updates of WhatsApp for Windows, WhatsApp for macOS, and WhatsApp Web, and it’s rolling out to more users over the coming weeks.
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