In short, WhatsApp does not send any notification when you take a screenshot of a chat. You can freely screenshot any chat on WhatsApp without the other person knowing.
Why People Want to Know If WhatsApp Notifies Screenshots
WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. Naturally, people use it to communicate all sorts of sensitive information – personal conversations, business deals, private photos and more.
Sometimes users want to keep records of certain chats by taking screenshots. But they don’t want the other person to know they did this. This raises the question – does WhatsApp notify the other user when you screenshot a chat?
There are a few reasons why people want to know if WhatsApp notifies about screenshots:
- Privacy – People want to screenshot a chat for personal reference without the other user knowing.
- Secrecy – In sensitive conversations, like planning a surprise or discussing confidential business deals, users may want to take screenshots without notifying the other party.
- Evidence – In certain legal or official scenarios, users may need chat evidence but don’t want to alert the other user.
The fear of getting notified can prevent people from taking important screenshots. So it’s useful to know WhatsApp’s policy regarding screenshots.
WhatsApp’s Policy on Chat Screenshots
WhatsApp has explicitly stated that they do NOT send any notification when you take a screenshot of a chat. You can freely screenshot any WhatsApp chat without the other user knowing about it.
This applies to both individual and group chats. WhatsApp does not send any message or notification when you screenshot a one-on-one chat or a group conversation. The other participants have no way of knowing you took a screenshot.
This policy has been confirmed multiple times by WhatsApp via their FAQ page and blog announcements. They have made it clear that your chat screenshots are private.
Why WhatsApp Doesn’t Notify Screenshots
WhatsApp not notifying screenshots is a conscious design decision reflecting their privacy priorities. There are a few likely reasons behind this policy:
- User Privacy – WhatsApp wants to give users control over their privacy. Enabling screenshot notifications would take away users’ freedom and add unwanted social pressure.
- Minimal Design – The app is designed to be simple and clutter-free. Notification for every screenshot would lead to unnecessary clutter.
- Prevent Abuse – Screenshot notifications could enable harassment or abuse around screenshots taken out of context.
- User Convenience – Many legitimate usage cases like taking notes, sharing info, tech issues require screenshots. Notifications would disrupt these.
By not notifying about screenshots, WhatsApp provides a clean messaging experience focused on user needs.
Can You Bypass WhatsApp’s Policy?
While WhatsApp themselves will never notify the other user of screenshots, some wonder whether there are third-party workarounds to get screenshot notifications.
Developers have certainly tried to build mods and hacks to enable screenshot notifications. But so far, none have succeeded in reliably bypassing WhatsApp’s protocols.
Some of the methods tried to get screenshot notifications include:
- Modded/Hacked WhatsApp versions
- Third-party screenshot apps
- Trying to exploit OS level notifications
- Attaching malware/spyware to WhatsApp
However, WhatsApp has protections in place to prevent such behavior and violations of its policies. These unofficial notification methods often fail or get blocked.
Risks of Using Third-Party Screenshot Notifications
Trying to enable screenshot notifications on WhatsApp via shady third-party apps or hacks carries significant risks, such as:
- Bans – WhatsApp detects and bans accounts using modded or hacked apps.
- Malware – Third-party apps may infect devices with viruses, trojans, spyware.
- Data Theft – Hack tools might steal your WhatsApp data and messages.
- Unreliable – These tools tend to be unstable and stop working with app updates.
It is best to avoid such risky software and accept that WhatsApp does not show screenshot notifications natively.
Ethical Concerns Around Secret Screenshots
A core criticism of WhatsApp’s no-notification policy is that it enables unethical secret screenshots.
While WhatsApp aims to protect user privacy, some worry that the ability to take screenshots secretly could enable:
- Breach of trust – taking screenshots without consent in private conversations.
- Blackmail – misusing private screenshots for extortion.
- Revenge porn – sharing intimate screenshots without permission.
- Harassment – repeated unwanted screenshots making someone uncomfortable.
- Defamation – screenshots taken out of context to damage reputations.
However, tech experts argue WhatsApp has innovated around risks like these:
- View once media disappears after the recipient views it once, preventing misuse.
- Reporting tools allow users to report harassment, threats or misuse of screenshots.
- Blocking stops unwanted contacts from sending you messages or media.
- Encryption means WhatsApp itself cannot access your chat content.
Ultimately, like any technology, WhatsApp aims to maximize benefits while mitigating potential harms.
Tips to Take Screenshots on WhatsApp
Now that it’s clear WhatsApp doesn’t notify about screenshots, many users want to know how to actually take screenshots of WhatsApp chats.
Screenshotting WhatsApp chats is easy on both iPhone and Android. Here are step-by-step instructions:
iPhone
- Open the WhatsApp chat you want to screenshot
- To screenshot a specific message – Press and hold the message till a menu pops up
- Tap ‘Copy’ from the menu
- Go to Notes or any text app and paste the message – this will paste an image of the message
- To screenshot more messages – Use your iPhone’s native screenshot feature by pressing the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously (works on current screen).
Android
- Open the WhatsApp chat
- To screenshot a specific message – Press and hold the message, then tap ‘Star’ icon
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Starred Messages to view screenshotted message
- To screenshot multiple messages – Use your Android’s native screenshot feature by pressing the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously.
Make sure to open the relevant chat thread before taking a full screenshot. Make sure no sensitive content is visible in the screenshot.
Other WhatsApp Screenshot Tips
Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when taking screenshots on WhatsApp:
- Screenshots save to your phone’s native gallery app.
- Check screenshots to ensure you captured the relevant information.
- Crop screenshots if needed to only show necessary content.
- Be ethical about which screenshots you take and share.
- Turn off notification previews if you want to hide message contents.
- Use a secure photo/file vault app to store sensitive screenshots.
- Turn on chat backup to cloud to ensure you have a separate chat record.
Screen Recording Instead of Screenshots
If you want to save Snapchat or Instagram stories which disappear after 24 hours, screenshots may not work properly. These apps notify when you screenshot a story.
In such cases, consider using your phone’s native screen recording instead of screenshots. This allows you to record your screen discreetly without the app knowing.
Just be ethical about when and how you capture recordings to respect people’s privacy.
The Bottom Line
To summarize – WhatsApp currently does not notify users when you take a screenshot of their chats. This allows you to discretely take screenshots as needed for your records or information.
However, be responsible about which screenshots you capture and how you share them further. Avoid capturing or sharing content without proper consent where required. With conscientious use, WhatsApp’s no-notification policy enables great utility.