WhatsApp introduced the view once feature in 2021. This allows users to send photos or videos that disappear after being opened once by the recipient. While useful for privacy, it can be frustrating if you want to save or reaccess a view once message.
Luckily, there are a few workarounds to save or recover a WhatsApp view once photo or video on both iPhone and Android devices.
Can You Save WhatsApp View Once Messages?
No, WhatsApp does not have a built-in feature to save view once messages. The whole point of view once is that the media is deleted after being opened. So there is no official way to save these temporary messages.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. With the right tools and quick action, you can find workarounds to view, record, and save expiring WhatsApp media.
How to Save WhatsApp View Once on iPhone
On iPhone, you have a couple different options to save a view once WhatsApp message:
Screen Recording
The easiest way is to use your iPhone’s built-in screen recording feature. Here’s how:
- As soon as you get a new view once message, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center.
- Long press the Screen Recording icon (it looks like a solid circle inside a ring).
- Tap Start Recording to begin capturing your iPhone’s screen.
- Open the WhatsApp message and view the media to save it.
- After viewing, stop the screen recording.
- Go to your Photos app to find the recorded video, and you can now view the WhatsApp media.
This quick screen recording will let you safely view and then save the photo/video before it disappears.
Third-party Apps
Alternatively, you can use a third-party app to automate the screen recording process:
- AirShou: This app can detect WhatsApp notifications and will automatically record your screen. You can then open the view once, and AirShou will save the media.
- ReplayKit: Enables screen recording and will capture any WhatsApp media you view. However, ReplayKit only works for certain iPhone models.
These tools run in the background and start recording as soon as you get a WhatsApp notification. Then just open the view once as normal and you’ll have a saved copy.
How to Save Expiring WhatsApp Media on Android
Android also provides a few different methods to save temporary WhatsApp media:
Screen Recording
Like iPhone, Android has a built-in screen recorder you can enable:
- Pull down the Quick Settings panel at the top.
- Tap the Screen Recorder icon (a solid circle inside a ring).
- Select Start to begin capturing your screen.
- Open the view once WhatsApp message.
- Stop the recording after viewing the media.
- Access the screen recording from your Photos app.
For some Android devices, you may need to add Screen Recorder to your Quick Settings first.
Third-party Apps
There are also apps you can download to record your Android screen:
- AZ Screen Recorder: Detects WhatsApp notifications and saves your screen, allowing you to view and record expiring media.
- DU Recorder: Records your screen when enabled, including any WhatsApp view once messages.
These tools work in the background to start recording when you receive a WhatsApp notification. You can then watch the view once normally while the app captures your screen.
Other WhatsApp View Once Workarounds
In addition to screen recording, there are a couple other workarounds to save expiring WhatsApp media:
Preview from Notification
When you receive a new WhatsApp message, the notification will sometimes preview the photo or video. For view once messages, this preview is your only chance to see the media without having it marked as read.
- Don’t open the WhatsApp app when you get the new notification.
- Pull down your notification shade and look for the media preview.
- Take a screenshot of the preview to save it.
This doesn’t always work as not every notification shows a preview, but it can be an easy trick to quickly save some expiring media.
WhatsApp Web
Open WhatsApp Web on your computer and link it to your mobile device using the QR code. Then when you receive a new view once message on your phone, it will also appear in WhatsApp Web. You can then use your computer to save the media before it’s marked as read and deleted.
Airplane Mode
When you get a new view once message, enable Airplane Mode on your phone before opening it. Open and screenshot the media, then close WhatsApp. Disable Airplane Mode and the image/video will not have registered as viewed yet. You now have a saved copy.
This works because enabling Airplane Mode prevents WhatsApp from contacting its servers to register the view. Just don’t forget to close WhatsApp before disabling Airplane Mode.
Why You May Want to Save View Once Messages
WhatsApp’s view once send feature is designed for privacy. Any compromising photos or videos self-destruct after the recipient views them once. But there are valid reasons you may want to save these temporary messages, such as:
- Important information is shared that you need to refer back to later.
- It’s a funny photo/video you want to share or post.
- You want to report abusive/offensive content sent to you.
- Keeping a record of information that was privately communicated to you.
While saving view once media goes against the intended purpose, the above scenarios provide justification for wanting to preserve expiring WhatsApp content.
Third-party App Risks
When using third-party apps to record your screen and save WhatsApp media, be aware of a few security and privacy risks:
- The app makers can potentially access all your recorded screen data.
- Bugs may cause unexpected issues or crashes.
- Recording may capture private information you don’t intend to save.
- Apps may continue running in the background even when disabled.
Make sure to only use reputable apps for screen recording and close background processes when not actively trying to save a view once message.
Respect the Sender’s Wishes
Ultimately, remember that the view once sender chose that option for a reason. If it was meant to be temporary, you should respect their wishes and allow the media to expire after opening it.
Only use the saving workarounds when absolutely necessary. And if you do preserve something sent as view once, don’t share it elsewhere without the sender’s permission.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp doesn’t allow officially saving view once messages, iPhone and Android provide workarounds:
- Use built-in screen recording to capture and save expiring media.
- Download third-party apps that can detect and record WhatsApp notifications.
- Enable Airplane Mode before opening the message, then screenshot the preview.
- View the media on linked WhatsApp Web to save it.
However, be mindful of security risks and respect the sender’s intention for temporary content. With the right approach, you can safely preserve important view once messages when needed.