ISLAMABAD, November 15, 2026: WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature that will allow users to send text messages that disappear automatically after being read once, extending its popular View Once option beyond photos and videos.
According to WhatsApp update tracker WABetaInfo, the feature has appeared in a new beta version of the messaging app for Android, marking another step towards giving users greater control over their private conversations.
The new option will allow users to send individual text messages that recipients can open only once. After the message has been viewed, it will disappear from the conversation and cannot be accessed again.
WhatsApp introduced View Once for photos and videos in August 2021, enabling users to share sensitive or temporary information without keeping it permanently in their chats.
The upcoming text-based feature could be particularly useful for sharing passwords, login credentials and other confidential details, although users should still exercise caution when sharing sensitive information.
Unlike WhatsApp’s existing disappearing messages feature, which automatically deletes messages after a selected period, View Once will apply to individual text messages and remove them immediately after their first viewing.
The report suggests that recipients will not be able to copy, forward or save these messages. Screenshot restrictions are also expected to prevent users from capturing the content through the app.
The feature is currently being tested in the Android beta version, and WhatsApp has not announced an official date for its wider release.