WhatsApp’s view once feature allows you to send photos and videos that disappear after being viewed once. This can be useful for sharing sensitive media that you don’t want the recipient to be able to keep or share.
Enabling view once is easy in both individual and group chats. When enabled, you’ll see a “1” icon next to media in the chat to indicate it will delete after being viewed. The recipient will also be notified that the media will disappear.
View once media is encrypted end-to-end, just like all other WhatsApp communication. However, recipients can still screenshot or screen record your view once media before it disappears. There is no way to prevent this.
Here’s what you need to know about using WhatsApp’s view once feature in iOS:
Requirements
To use WhatsApp’s view once, you’ll need:
– The latest version of WhatsApp installed on your iPhone or iPad. Keep your apps updated for the best experience.
– iOS 16 or later installed on your device. View once requires a relatively recent version of iOS.
– An active internet connection to send and receive view once media.
As long as you have the latest WhatsApp and iOS updates, using view once is easy. Just follow the steps below.
Enabling View Once in an Individual Chat
Here is how to enable view once when sending media in an individual chat:
1. Open the WhatsApp chat with the recipient.
2. Tap the + icon to select media to send.
3. Select a photo or video to send.
4. Before sending it, tap the “1” icon next to the caption field. This enables view once.
5. The “1” icon will appear filled in when view once is enabled.
6. Type your message as usual and tap send.
The media you sent will disappear after the recipient opens it once. A “Opened” text will appear under the sent media when this happens.
That’s all there is to it! The view once icon makes enabling this privacy feature quick and easy in individual WhatsApp chats.
Enabling View Once in Group Chats
Sending view once media in group chats works the same way:
1. Open the WhatsApp group chat.
2. Tap the + icon and select a photo or video to send.
3. Tap the “1” icon next to the caption field to enable view once.
4. The icon will appear filled in when enabled.
5. Type your message and tap send as usual.
The media will disappear after being viewed once by each recipient in the group.
One thing to keep in mind is that anyone in the group chat can screenshot or record your view once media before it disappears.
Also note that if other group members reply to your view once message, the replied-to media won’t disappear for anyone. Only the original sender’s media will view once.
Viewing View Once Media
When receiving view once media, you’ll see a “1” icon next to the media preview:
Tap the media to view it. After opening it once, the media will disappear from the chat.
If you don’t open the view once media within 14 days of receiving it, the media will expire and disappear from the chat automatically.
Requirements for View Once Media
WhatsApp currently only supports view once for photos and videos. You cannot send:
– View once text messages
– View once documents
– View once audio messages
– View once GIFs or stickers
In addition, view once photos and videos must adhere to the following size limits:
| Media Type | Max Size |
| Photos | Up to 16MB |
| Videos | Up to 63MB |
Any media that exceeds these size limits will fail to send with view once enabled. You’ll need to disable view once in that case.
Troubleshooting View Once Issues
Here are some common issues and fixes for WhatsApp view once on iOS:
Can’t Enable View Once
If the view once icon is greyed out and can’t be enabled, the likely causes are:
– You need to update WhatsApp to the latest version with view once support. Check the App Store for updates.
– The media exceeds the maximum size limit. Use smaller files for view once.
– Your internet connection is unstable. View once requires a steady connection.
Media Doesn’t Disappear
If your view once media doesn’t disappear after being opened, try:
– Making sure the recipient opened the media. The “Opened” text will confirm this.
– Give it some time. It can take a few minutes for view once media to disappear after being seen.
– Restarting the WhatsApp app and/or your device if issues persist.
Can’t View Received Media
If you can’t view media that someone sent you with view once enabled, it likely expired before you saw it. Media expires after 14 days if not opened.
Ask the sender to resend the media if needed. Also respond more promptly to view once messages to see them before they disappear.
Recording View Once Media
While convenient, it’s important to note that other WhatsApp users can capture view once media before it disappears. On iOS, this includes:
– Taking a screenshot of view once photos.
– Recording the screen video or audio to capture view once videos.
There is no way to prevent capturing. If you wish to prevent screen recording, consider using an alternative to view once.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s view once feature for media is an easy way to share private photos and videos that disappear after being seen. Just enable the “1” icon before sending media, and remind recipients to open it promptly before it expires after 14 days.
Keep in mind that recipients can still screenshot or record view once media before it disappears. Use this feature wisely when sharing sensitive content in WhatsApp chats on iOS and enjoy its added privacy.