How to Send Disappearing Photos and Videos on WhatsApp

WhatsApp’s View Once feature lets you send a photo or video that the recipient can open once; after they leave the viewer, it can’t be opened again in the chat. You’ll need WhatsApp on a phone and an existing chat with the person you want to send it to. View Once adds privacy, but it cannot stop someone from capturing the image with another device.

What You’ll Need

WhatsApp installed and set up on your phone.
An individual or group chat where you can send messages.
The photo or video you want to share, either in your camera roll or ready to capture in WhatsApp.
A reasonably current version of the app. If View Once controls are missing, update WhatsApp through your device’s app store.

Step-by-Step

Open the right conversation. In WhatsApp, open the individual or group chat where you want to send the media. Check the recipient or group name before continuing; once sent, you may not be able to retrieve a View Once item.
Choose or take a photo or video. Tap the camera or attachment control beside the message field. The exact icon and menu wording can vary by phone. Choose a photo or video from your gallery, or take one with the in-app camera. If selecting from the gallery, select the item and continue to its preview screen.
Find the View Once control. On the media preview screen, look near the caption field for a circle containing the number 1. Tap it. When View Once is enabled, the icon or its appearance changes to show the setting is on. If you don’t see the control, check that you are previewing an individual photo or video rather than a document, and update WhatsApp if needed.
Add a caption if you want one. Type a caption in the available field. View Once applies to the media, not to ordinary text messages. Avoid adding sensitive details in a caption if you don’t want them to remain in the conversation.
Check the setting and recipient. Confirm the 1 icon indicates View Once is active, make sure you selected the intended photo or video, and verify the conversation. If you change the media or return to the chat, check the setting again before sending.
Send the item. Tap the send button. The chat will show a View Once media indicator rather than a normal image preview. Wait for the sending indicator to finish before closing the app or switching networks.
Check delivery and opening status. WhatsApp may show message status indicators, depending on your settings and the recipient’s read receipts. In a group, you may be able to see which members opened the item by viewing its message information. The recipient must open it before it expires from the chat; unopened View Once media is generally removed after 14 days.

Common Mistakes

Sending without turning on View Once: Choosing a photo does not automatically make it disappear. Look for the circled 1 on the preview screen and confirm it is active before tapping send.
Assuming it disappears immediately: View Once media is available until the recipient opens it, subject to WhatsApp’s expiry period for unopened media. It is not a timer that deletes the item a set number of seconds after sending.
Expecting a guaranteed ban on copying: WhatsApp may block screenshots or screen recordings in supported circumstances, but protections can vary and cannot prevent a person from photographing or recording the screen with another device.
Using it for a document or regular message: View Once is for a single photo or video sent through the media preview. It does not make other chat content disappear.
Forgetting group recipients: Everyone in the group who can access the message may be able to open it. Check the group carefully before sending private media.
Thinking you can resend or reopen it: After it has been opened, the media cannot normally be viewed again in WhatsApp. Keep a copy somewhere appropriate if you may need the original later.

Tips

Use View Once for content you intend to share briefly, not as a substitute for careful recipient selection or secure handling.
Send a short text first if the recipient needs context, such as what the image shows. Remember that the text remains in the chat like a regular message.
Check the preview for accidental personal information in the background, reflections, or visible notifications before sending.
For a video, confirm it is the intended clip and plays correctly in the preview. A recipient gets only one viewing opportunity, so avoid sending a clip that needs explanation or repeated inspection.
If the recipient says they can’t open it, ask them to update WhatsApp and reopen the chat. Don’t send a second copy until you have checked whether the first one was opened.
Use ordinary media or another suitable method when the recipient needs to save, refer to, or revisit the content. View Once is designed for a single opening, not long-term sharing.

Troubleshooting

The 1 icon is missing. Update WhatsApp, then reopen the chat and select the photo or video again. View Once is selected from the media preview, so it may not appear while you are browsing files or composing a text. If the item is being sent as a document, choose it as a photo or video instead.

The item sent as a normal image. Check the message in the chat: if it shows a regular thumbnail, it likely was not sent with View Once. You generally cannot convert a message after sending. If appropriate, delete it for everyone as soon as possible and send the correct item again with the 1 icon enabled. Deletion may not undo something the recipient has already seen or saved outside WhatsApp.

The message is stuck sending. Check your internet connection, make sure WhatsApp can use mobile data or Wi-Fi, and try again. Avoid repeatedly tapping send, which could create duplicate messages. If the item remains pending, wait for the connection to return and check the chat before retrying.

The recipient can’t open it. Ask them to open the chat on a supported, updated version of WhatsApp and tap the View Once message. If it has already been opened, expired, or deleted, it can’t normally be opened again; you may need to send another copy.

You can’t tell whether it was viewed. Open the message information where available. Read receipt settings and group behavior can affect what status you see, so a missing status does not always prove the recipient has not viewed it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a View Once photo or video in a group?
Yes, if the View Once option is available for the media in that chat. Treat it as visible to the group members who can access the message.

Can the recipient take a screenshot?
WhatsApp may block screenshots or screen recordings in supported cases, but this is not a guarantee against copying. Someone can use another device to capture the screen.

Can I see the photo or video again after sending it?
Normally, no. View Once media is intended to be opened once and cannot be replayed by the sender from the chat after it has been sent.

How long does an unopened View Once message last?
Unopened View Once media generally expires after 14 days. Once opened, it is no longer available to view in the chat.

Can I turn a regular photo into View Once after sending?
No. The setting must be enabled in the media preview before sending. If the message is still eligible for deletion, you can try deleting it for everyone and send it again correctly.

Does View Once delete the original from my phone?
No. The feature controls the copy sent in WhatsApp; it does not normally remove the original photo or video from your camera roll.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →