Scoopfeeds — Intelligent news, curated.
WhatsApp is testing read-once disappearing messages
tech

WhatsApp is testing read-once disappearing messages

Engadget · Jun 17, 2026, 10:47 AM · Also reported by 1 other source

Key takeaways

  • It's finally joining Meta's other messaging apps with the feature.
  • Steve Dent for Engadget Whats App already offers disappearing photos, videos and voice apps, but it's finally offering what most of its contemporaries already have: disappearing (view-once) texts.

It's finally joining Meta's other messaging apps with the feature.

Steve Dent for Engadget Whats App already offers disappearing photos, videos and voice apps, but it's finally offering what most of its contemporaries already have: disappearing (view-once) texts. The company is busy testing that feature in its latest i OS beta and a recent pre-release Android version as well, WABeta Info reported.

As seen in the i OS 26.24.10.16 beta on Test Flight, you'll be able to select a new "Send as view once" option after composing a message. After that, the text's recipient will be only be able to open the message and read it once before it vanishes into the ether. They won't be able to copy, forward or share the message either, and WhatsApp will block screenshots and screen recordings to ensure it stays "eyes only."

Article preview — originally published by Engadget. Full story at the source.
Read full story on Engadget → More top stories

Also covered by

Aggregated and edited by the Scoop newsroom. We surface news from Engadget alongside other reporting so you can compare coverage in one place. Editorial policy · Corrections · About Scoop