WhatsApp develops view-once text messages for iOS

WhatsApp is adding a view‑once option for text messages. The feature, spotted in the latest iOS beta (version 26.24.10.16) and also being tested on Android, lets a user send a message that disappears permanently after the recipient opens it once. Users will select the mode via a new item in the send‑button menu labeled “Send as view once.” The messages can be sent in one‑to‑one and group chats but are not supported in WhatsApp Channels, which are designed for broadcast to large audiences.

The privacy controls mirror those of existing view‑once photos, videos and voice notes: recipients cannot copy, forward or share the text, and the app may block screenshots and screen recordings. The capability is still under development and has not yet been released to beta testers or the stable app. WhatsApp has not announced a launch date.

The addition expands WhatsApp’s suite of privacy tools, which already includes end‑to‑end encryption, disappearing messages and view‑once media, providing a more uniform way for users to share sensitive information without leaving a permanent record.