WhatsApp May Soon Let You Open View-Once Content from Linked Devices
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Loading... - Lotta Koskinen
- 04 Feb 2025
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WhatsApp, one of the world's most popular messaging apps, is reportedly working on a feature that will allow users to open view-once content—such as images, videos, and voice messages—on linked devices. This enhancement addresses a notable limitation in the app's current functionality.
Currently, while WhatsApp users can access their accounts on linked devices like computers, Android tablets, or other smartphones, they cannot view self-destructing media sent with the view-once feature. This has been a point of frustration for many users who frequently utilize linked devices for their messaging needs.
According to WABetaInfo, a reliable source for WhatsApp updates, users on the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.3.7 can now view self-destructing images, videos, and voice messages on their linked devices. Although it remains unclear why this feature was not available earlier, its introduction is expected to be welcomed by users who rely on linked devices.
The feature is currently live for some beta users, with plans for broader availability among testers in the coming days. However, certain functionalities will still be restricted on linked devices, such as viewing someone's live location or creating broadcast lists. Notably, there was no mention of the previous limitation regarding view-once media.
Some users have reported seeing a message stating, "Waiting for this message. This may take a while," when attempting to open view-once content on linked devices. Fortunately, this restriction appears to be on the verge of being lifted, although it remains uncertain when the feature will be rolled out to stable version users.
In November 2023, a beta version hinted at the possibility of sending view-once media from linked devices, but this feature has yet to be widely implemented. With the development of the ability to view ephemeral content on linked devices, there is hope that WhatsApp will also enable users to send self-destructing messages from these devices in the future.
In related news, a recent vulnerability was discovered that allowed users to open view-once images and videos even after they had been viewed by the recipient, raising significant privacy concerns. WhatsApp and Meta acted swiftly to address this issue, implementing a fix within a week.
The potential addition of the ability to view view-once content on linked devices marks a significant improvement for WhatsApp users. As the app continues to evolve, these enhancements aim to provide a more seamless and user-friendly experience while addressing privacy and functionality concerns. Users can look forward to these updates as WhatsApp works to refine its features and maintain its position as a leading messaging platform.
