WhatsApp killed a popular feature – now it's back

WhatsApp is reinstating a popular feature (Picture: Getty)

A year after removing the popular ‘View Once’ feature for photos and videos from WhatsApp Web and desktop, Meta is rolling it back out to users.

The ability to send media that could only be seen once before disappearing – or ‘self-destructing’ – was introduced in 2021 by WhatsApp.

Launching the feature, WhatsApp said: ‘Deciding how long a message lasts should be in your hands.’

The move was hailed as a win for privacy by many, preventing photos and videos being forwarded on to other users.

However, a number of children’s charities raised fears over the function, warning it could allow abusers to share and perpetrate child abuse.

Aside from those concerns, users loved the new feature, making it one of the app’s most popular features – so they were pretty annoyed last year when it was blocked on desktop.

WhatsApp removed the feature because it was unable to prevent users taking screenshots of the media, unlike on smartphones.

But a year later they have brought the feature back – although it has not been confirmed whether or not the issue has been fixed. Not everyone on WhatsApp web or desktop has the feature yet, but is should be rolled out to all over the coming weeks.

With View Once, pictures disappear after being opened (Picture: WhatsApp)

Reporting on the news, WhatsApp news website WABetaInfo said: ‘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.’

The move comes weeks after the website revealed WhatsApp is also testing a listen once feature for voice notes.

Voice messages were introduced back in 2013, and quickly became an essential tool for sending messages on the go or news that deserves more than a text message.

The listen once function works both ways, with the sender unable to listen to the recording again after sending – bad news if you can’t remember what you sent the morning after the night before.

Previous reports suggested the View Once feature would also be rolled out to text messages, but there does not appear to be any further news on when, or if, the functionality will arrive.

Chat Lock was unveiled in May (Picture: Mark Zuckerberg)

The app will also soon allow users to hide locked chats – seen by many as a dream for cheaters. The Locked Chat function was rolled out earlier this year, allowing users to put certain chat behind a passcode, and hiding notifications from them.

However the fact anyone had locked chats was quite obvious in their chat menu. Soon the locked chats folder will also be better hidden.

Another privacy feature soon to be unveiled will allow users to share a different profile picture and username with certain people.

Tap the 1 icon to send media as ‘View Once’

How to send ‘View Once’ media on WhatsApp

1. Open up WhatsApp and go to the chat you want to send a photo or video to
2. Tap the plus (iOS) or paperclip (Android) symbol 
3. Select ‘Photo & Video Library’
4. Choose the image or video you want to send
5. After adding any caption but before hitting send, tap the 1 icon
6. This will set the media to view once
7. When you’re happy with your message, tap the arrow icon to send.

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more by signing up to Metro’s News Updates newsletter