WhatsApp’s view once feature allows users to send photos and videos that disappear after being viewed. However, you may want to take a screenshot of a one-time photo sent to you on WhatsApp for future reference. While WhatsApp doesn’t allow taking screenshots of view once media directly, there are some workarounds that will allow you to capture a screenshot on both Android and iOS devices before the photo disappears.
In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss different methods and tricks to take a screenshot of a view once photo on WhatsApp.
Overview of WhatsApp’s View Once Feature
WhatsApp introduced the view once feature in 2021. This feature allows users to send photos or videos that can only be viewed once by the recipient. Once the recipient opens the media, it disappears from the chat.
Here are some key points about WhatsApp’s view once feature:
- Media sent with view once can only be viewed a single time by the recipient.
- Once opened, the media disappears and cannot be viewed again.
- A single blue tick indicates the recipient has opened the view once media.
- View once media files cannot be forwarded, saved, starred, shared, or be pinned.
- If you don’t open the view once media within 14 days of it being sent, the media expires and disappears from the chat.
The view once feature is great for sharing sensitive information or media that you don’t want to be permanently available. However, sometimes you may want to take a screenshot of the view once photo before it disappears forever.
Can You Screenshot WhatsApp View Once Photos?
WhatsApp has intentionally disabled the ability to take screenshots of view once photos directly in the app. If you try to take a screenshot by pressing the Volume Down + Power buttons on Android or Home + Power buttons on iPhone, you will just get a blank black image.
So officially, WhatsApp does not allow taking screenshots of disappearing photos. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t workarounds that allow you to capture a screenshot before the media disappears.
We will go through different methods you can use to take a screenshot of a WhatsApp view once photo on both Android and iOS devices.
How to Screenshot WhatsApp View Once Photos on Android
Here are the best methods to screenshot a view once WhatsApp photo on Android:
Using Another Phone
One of the simplest ways is to use a second phone to take a photo of the view once media on your primary phone before it disappears.
Here are the steps:
- Open the view once photo on your primary Android phone.
- Use a second phone to take a photo of the view once photo displayed on the screen of your primary phone.
- Now you’ll have a picture of the disappearing photo saved on the second phone.
Just make sure to take the photo quickly before the media disappears on your primary phone’s screen!
Using Screen Recording
You can record your phone’s screen while opening the view once photo. This video will act as a screenshot. Follow these steps:
- On Android, open the Screen Recorder app which comes pre-installed on most devices.
- Start a screen recording and open the WhatsApp chat with the view once media.
- When you access the disappearing photo/video, stop the screen recording.
- You can now crop the photo from the recorded video and save it.
Screen recording ensures you can capture a screenshot even if the image disappears very fast.
Using An Accessibility Service App
There are some clever Android apps that can intercept your screen content using accessibility services. You can grant such an app the required permission to capture your screen.
Some apps like Accessibility Screenshot, ViewOnceCapture, and Screenshot Helper can automatically take a screenshot when you open the view once media in WhatsApp.
Just install any of these apps and enable the required accessibility permission when prompted. Then open the disappearing photo in WhatsApp, and the app will automatically capture a screenshot for you.
Using ADB on PC
This method needs you to connect your Android phone to a computer and use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands. Follow these steps:
- Install ADB on your PC and enable USB debugging on your Android phone.
- Connect the phone to PC with a USB cable.
- Open command prompt/terminal on PC and enter adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screenshot.png
- This will capture a screenshot and save it on your phone’s storage.
- Now view the disappearing photo on WhatsApp.
- Run the adb pull command to transfer the screenshot from phone to your computer.
This method allows you to capture a screenshot programmatically using ADB commands.
How to Screenshot WhatsApp View Once Photos on iPhone
Apple has tighter control over iOS, so taking WhatsApp view once screenshots on iPhone requires using some additional tools. Here are the best options:
Using the Screen Recording Feature
Similar to Android, you can also record your iPhone’s screen to capture a screenshot of the disappearing photo:
- Open Control Center on iPhone and start a screen recording.
- Now open the WhatsApp view once media so it gets captured in the video.
- Stop the recording after a few seconds and crop the photo from the video.
This gives you a usable screenshot of the disappearing photo on iOS.
Using a Macro Lens
A macro lens attachment for your iPhone camera allows you to take very close up photos and videos. You can use a macro lens to closely capture a screenshot of your iPhone’s screen when the view once image appears.
Just make sure to set up and properly attach the macro lens, then access the disappearing photo through WhatsApp so the image fills up your iPhone’s display. Now use the macro lens and camera to record a video or take a photo of the screen. When you zoom in, you’ll have a clear screenshot!
Using AirPlay Mirroring
If you have an Apple TV, you can mirror your iPhone’s display to it and capture a screenshot there. Follow these steps:
- Enable AirPlay mirroring from your iPhone to Apple TV.
- Open the view once photo on your iPhone so that it shows up on your TV screen.
- Use the Apple TV remote or Control Center on your iPhone to take a screenshot of the TV.
The image on your TV will remain visible allowing you to take a screenshot.
Using AssistiveTouch
The AssistiveTouch feature in iOS allows you to perform actions like screenshots using touch gestures. To capture a WhatsApp view once photo:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and enable it.
- A floating icon will appear which you can customize with the screenshot action.
- When the disappearing photo appears, tap the assistive touch icon and then the screenshot option.
This will let you take a screenshot even when the standard methods don’t work for view once media.
Use Third-Party Apps on iOS
Some creative developers have made apps to help you screenshot WhatsApp view once images on iOS:
- PicUp – Automatically takes screenshot when you open WhatsApp media
- SaveIt – Lets you screenshot stories, messages, etc. in any app
- MSCapture – Screen recording app with screenshot feature
Look for such utilities on the App Store and use them with accessibility features enabled to capture disappearing photos on WhatsApp.
Use WhatsApp Web to Take Screenshot
An easy option is to use WhatsApp Web on your computer’s browser to view and screenshot the media. Here’s how:
- Open web.whatsapp.com on your PC browser and link it to your WhatsApp account.
- The chat with the disappearing photo will be synced.
- When you receive the view once photo, open WhatsApp Web.
- Right-click on the photo and save or use Print Screen to capture it.
This method works seamlessly as long as you don’t open the photo on your phone first. WhatsApp Web mirrors the content of your phone’s app which allows you to screenshot media.
Use Third-Party WhatsApp Clients
Some third-party WhatsApp clients have found ways to disable view once protection allowing you to save the photos. For example:
- WhatsApp Plus – Modified WhatsApp client that lets you save view once media.
- GBWhatsApp – Another mod that bypasses view once restrictions.
However, using such apps violates WhatsApp’s terms and can lead to you getting banned. Use third-party clients at your own risk!
Stop WhatsApp from Sending View Once Media
If you don’t want any WhatsApp contacts to send you view once photos that will disappear, you can disable the feature completely:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy
- Turn off “View Once Messages”
This will stop contacts from sending any media that can only be viewed once. An error message will notify senders that you cannot receive view once photos or videos if they try.
While disabling the feature won’t allow you to screenshot view once media, it can prevent any unexpected disappearing photos in WhatsApp chats. Enable it again if you want to receive view once media.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp doesn’t officially support capturing screenshots of view once images, there are many clever workarounds available on both Android and iOS. Using a second phone camera, screen recording, accessibility features, third-party tools, WhatsApp Web, or modded clients can help you screenshot photos before they disappear.
Just be respectful of others’ privacy when taking screenshots. Also keep in mind apps that bypass WhatsApp protections violate the Terms of Service. With the right method, you can occasionally take a screenshot of a disappearing photo on WhatsApp when needed.