Whatsapp delivers the important screenshot lock for more and more testers. Here’s how the new feature works and how to bypass it.
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Whatsapp: screenshot lock can be tried
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In August 2022, Whatsapp announced that a screenshot lock is coming for messages sent as “single-view messages”. The recipients can no longer take screenshots of messages marked as such and can only see them again. This function is still in the test phase, after which Whatsapp wants to introduce this innovation for all users.
Now, WABetainfo reports that a more advanced variant of this new screenshot locking feature for images and videos is included in a new beta version. This is the beta 2.22.22.3 for Android. At least some of the beta testers would now be able to try out this new feature.
With this feature, you can specify in “single view messages” that the recipients cannot take screenshots or screen recordings of the pictures and videos sent with the messages. Instead, Whatsapp displays a corresponding message that taking screenshots is not possible due to security regulations. The recipient’s smartphone screen remains black while attempting to take a screenshot. Preventing the screenshots should also not be possible with third-party apps.
However, the sender of the image or video is not notified that someone attempted to take a screenshot.
This screenshot lock can only be activated on “One-time view messages”. Such messages cannot be saved or forwarded.
How to bypass screenshot lock
Attention: which of course is always possible – the recipient of such a message can photograph the image or video with another (smartphone) camera. So you do not have 100% protection against your picture or video being copied and stored permanently.
It is currently unknown when the new feature will be available to all Whatsapp users.
Whatsapp: screenshot lock is coming for messages & more improvements