WhatsApp introduced view once messages as a way to send photos and videos that disappear after being opened. This feature provides more control over privacy, as recipients can only view media sent this way a single time before it’s deleted. But exactly how long does a view once last before expiring? Here’s a closer look at how this ephemeral messaging option works.
What Are View Once Messages?
View once messages, introduced in 2021, are a way to send media in WhatsApp chats or group chats that can only be viewed a single time by the recipient. After the recipient opens the photo or video, it is immediately deleted. These ephemeral messages provide more control over privacy, as the sender can be assured the media will not be saved, screenshotted, or reshared by the recipient.
To send a view once, simply select the photo or video as you normally would, then tap the view once icon (it looks like the number 1) before sending. This toggles the view once setting. When sent, the media will be marked with a dedicated icon showing it’s a view once.
Key Features of View Once Messages
- Media (photos and videos) can only be viewed once before automatically disappearing.
- Recipients are notified the media is view once before opening.
- A message is sent in the chat confirming the view once was opened.
- View once media cannot be forwarded, saved, starred, shared, or reacted to.
- The sender is notified after the recipient opens the view once message.
In this way, view once provides temporary, self-destructing media sharing. The content cannot be accessed again after that initial viewing.
How Long Does a View Once Last?
So exactly how long does a recipient have to open a view once message on WhatsApp before it disappears? The view once photo or video will expire after being opened once, or if left unopened, will expire after 14 days.
That means the recipient has a 14 day window to open the view once media. Once opened, it will immediately disappear following that initial viewing. If the recipient doesn’t open it within 14 days, the view once will also expire and delete itself.
The 14 day expiration applies regardless of whether the view once has been delivered to the recipient’s device. Even if it shows only one check mark indicating it was sent but not delivered, it will still expire after 14 days without being opened.
Exact View Once Expiration Rules
Here are the specific rules for when a view once message will expire and delete itself from the recipient’s chat:
- Immediately expires after being opened for the first time
- Expires 14 days after being sent if never opened
- Expires if the recipient deletes the chat
- Expires if the sender deletes the chat for everyone
So in summary, the window for the recipient to open the media is between immediate delivery and 14 days, assuming the chat remains intact during that period.
Does the Sender Know When a View Once Is Opened?
Yes, the sender of a view once message will know when the recipient has opened it for the one and only view. This happens in two ways:
- The single check mark turns blue after it’s been delivered and opened, just like regular media messages.
- A text confirmation message is sent to the sender saying “opened” once the recipient views the content.
So you will definitely know once your view once message has been seen by the recipient and can no longer be accessed.
No Notification if View Once Expires
Note that if the 14 day expiration elapses before the recipient opens the view once, the sender will not receive a notification. The message will simply disappear from both ends of the chat without confirmation.
Pros of View Once Messages
Why might you want to send view once messages instead of normal media? Here are some of the advantages:
- Enhanced privacy – Recipients can’t reshare or save the media
- Reduced risk – Media exists ephemerally and then disappears
- More control for senders over what happens with the content
- Fun factor – Creates excitement and intrigue over expiring content
View once can be useful for sharing moments, reactions, or visuals you don’t necessarily want permanently kept or distributed. The temporary view lets you share in the moment without lasting impact.
Good Uses for View Once
Some common uses and situations where view once messages are handy:
- Sharing funny selfies or reactions
- Showing off new clothes/haircuts/looks
- Giving a glimpse of your environment or activity
- Flirty messaging with romantic partners
- Sneak peeks leading up to an event or announcement
Cons of View Once Messages
However, there are also some downsides or risks to keep in mind with view once:
- No record – Can’t go back and reference the media later
- Screencapping – Recipient could screenshot before it expires
- Outside sharing – Recipient could copy and share via third-party apps
- Accidental sends – More risk in sending to unintended recipients
While view once messages self-destruct, recipients can still find ways to capture or share the content if motivated. So don’t send anything too private or risky.
When to Avoid View Once
Situations where view once may be risky or inadvisable:
- Sending financial information or documents
- Sharing confidential business material
- Sending inappropriate or illegal content
- Messaging questionable recipients
- Any content you may need to refer back to later
For anything truly sensitive, confidential, or risky, normal media messages or other more secure delivery may be preferable.
How to Save a View Once Message
Is it possible to save a view once message on WhatsApp, either as the sender or recipient? While the ephemeral media is designed to prevent saving, some users do find crafty ways to capture view once content:
- Screen recording the video or screenshotting the photo just as it opens
- Using another device like a camera to record the view once
- Copying a screenshot to another app before the message expires
- Using WhatsApp mods or tweaks that disable auto-delete
However, these violate the intended use of view once messages. There is otherwise no native option within WhatsApp itself to save or recover media sent as view once after it expires.
Other View Once Considerations
- Recipients can see a thumbnail preview in notifications which could be screenshotted
- View once media may be cached temporarily on devices while unopened
- Deleting the chat also deletes any unopened view once messages
- View once messages count normally towards your storage usage
While not foolproof, view once messages do offer a quick and easy option for ephemeral sharing. Just be mindful of the limitations compared to standard media messages.
Conclusion
In summary, a view once message on WhatsApp will last up to 14 days if never opened, or will expire immediately after being viewed one time. The sender will receive confirmation once it’s been opened, letting them know the media has expired and been deleted.
View once provides more private and temporary sharing, with the media disappearing after that initial viewing. But recipients can still find creative ways to capture the content if motivated. Overall, view once adds an interesting new option for ephemeral messaging, though normal media messages may be preferable for truly sensitive content.
Some key points to remember:
- View once media expires after first open or 14 days if never opened
- Senders receive notification when a view once is opened
- Recipients only get a single view before media is deleted
- View once provides more control but isn’t foolproof
Now that you know how long view once messages last and how they work, you can use them selectively when you want media to disappear after being seen. Just be thoughtful about potential risks depending on the content and recipient.
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