You will soon have the ability to send view-once messages on WhatsApp.

      The feature functions similarly to view-once media, preventing copying, forwarding, and screenshots once the recipient opens the message.

      WhatsApp has provided disappearing messages for some time, yet this feature comes with two significant drawbacks. It affects all messages in the conversation instead of just individual ones, and the deletion countdown begins as soon as a message is sent, regardless of whether the recipient has seen it. WhatsApp is currently addressing both issues.

      Earlier this year, the company began testing an “After Reading” timer for disappearing messages that starts the deletion countdown only when the recipient opens the message. Additionally, WABetaInfo has reported that WhatsApp is also testing view-once messages, allowing users to send single texts that are no longer accessible after they are read once.

      A gap in the view-once functionality

      In 2021, WhatsApp introduced view-once support for images and videos, providing users a convenient way to share sensitive content without it remaining in the chat history. The feature was extended to voice notes in 2023, leaving text messages as the last category without it.

      WhatsApp is developing view-once text messages for iPhone! The messaging platform will finally introduce the view-once option for text messages, adding it to existing capabilities for photos, videos, and voice notes. https://t.co/ecslTZfbSx — WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) June 15, 2026

      WABetaInfo has now noted that WhatsApp is working on adding view-once support for text messages, as seen in the WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.24.10.16 available on TestFlight. The company is also pursuing similar functionality for Android devices.

      How it operates

      To send a view-once text, users must long-press the Send button after composing their message. This action will reveal a dropdown menu with the option to “Send as view once.” Similar to other forms of view-once media, the recipient will only be able to view the message one time before it becomes unavailable, and WhatsApp will restrict copying, forwarding, screenshots, and screen recordings.

      WABetaInfo

      Reportedly, this feature will work in both private and group chats, although it will not be applicable for channels. WABetaInfo emphasizes that it is not currently available to beta testers, indicating it may take some time before it is accessible to general users.

      Pranob is a seasoned technology journalist with over eight years of experience in consumer technology coverage.

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      Last year, Google introduced an AI-driven editing capability in Google Photos named "Edit with Ask Photos," enabling users to adjust images through natural language requests. Initially available in a limited number of countries, Google is now broadening its availability to five new markets.

      From four countries to nine

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      Transitioning from an iPhone to an Android device has often been challenging. While Apple introduced certain enhancements with iOS 26.3 to facilitate wireless migration of items like photos, messages, and apps, Google has fully overhauled the Android Switch, its migration tool, to improve the experience for users switching from iOS to Android.

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