WhatsApp users have long been able to share photos, videos, and voice notes that vanish after being viewed or heard. Now, the messaging platform is expanding this privacy-focused functionality to plain text. After several months of internal testing, the view-once text message option has started rolling out to beta testers on Android devices.
According to a report from WABetaInfo, the feature has been spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.45.6 for Android, where it is currently accessible to a limited group of testers.
How to send a view-once text message on WhatsApp
The process mirrors how the feature works for media files. When you send a text with the view-once setting enabled, the message is automatically erased from the recipient's phone as soon as they have read it.
To try it out, simply type your message as usual, then press and hold the send button instead of tapping it. From the options that appear, choose "View Once." If this is your first time using the feature, WhatsApp will display a brief explainer about how view-once texts function—just tap "OK" to continue.
Unlike regular messages, a view-once text does not display directly in the chat window. Instead, the recipient must tap on it to reveal the content, which opens in a dedicated full-screen interface. As soon as they close it, the message is gone for good and cannot be reopened. The sender is also notified that the message has been opened, as long as read receipts are turned on.
After opening, the text becomes inaccessible to both parties in the conversation. Recipients are unable to copy, forward, or save the content. Additionally, WhatsApp disables screenshots and screen recording while a view-once message is being displayed, which makes it a practical option for sharing confidential details such as passwords or one-time codes.
That said, no digital protection is foolproof. A recipient could still photograph the screen using a second device, and neither WhatsApp nor the sender would be able to prevent or detect that.
One limitation worth noting: WABetaInfo points out that view-once texts currently cannot be scheduled in advance. It remains unclear whether WhatsApp plans to add that capability before the feature becomes widely available to the general public.
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