Last year, WhatsApp introduced a new option called "One Time View", in order to allow users to send photos and videos that disappear after opening them, similar to Snapchat and Instagram.

Now, the Meta-owned company wants to improve this feature, but this time by preventing users from taking screenshots or recordings of on-screen photos and videos sent with the "one-time view" feature.

Although the company previously announced its intention to prevent millions of users of its application via Android and iPhone devices from taking screenshots of messages sent with the “one-time view” feature, it has made it available so far as a test for some users.

Technology experts at WABetaInfo revealed this feature in the beta version of WhatsApp, which means that users of the beta application (WhatsApp beta) will be able to try it.

WapitaInfo explained that when you try to take a "screenshot" the images will be completely black, and for some users, the ability to take a screenshot will disappear.

The site indicated that the new feature carries some interesting details, as the sender - for example - will not receive a notification if an attempt to screen capture is blocked.

However, it is possible for someone to use a phone's camera or other device to actually capture the screen, and there is no way to find out.

📝 WhatsApp beta for iOS 22.21.0.71: what's new?

WhatsApp is releasing screenshot blocking for view once images and videos to some beta testers!https://t.co/fXvDQIlSxi pic.twitter.com/tIiR3FpBNs

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) October 4, 2022

It is not yet clear when the screenshot ban will be published in the public version of WhatsApp.

"WhatsApp continues to work on improving the detection of attempts to silently take screenshots, and more improvements may be available in the future," Wapita Info explained.

How to download the trial version of WhatsApp

To download the beta version of WhatsApp for your smartphone, you need to go to Google Play on your Android device and search for WhatsApp.

Scroll down the page until you see "Be a beta tester".

Click the "I'm interested" button, then click "Join" to confirm.

Now all you have to do is wait for the beta version of the app to launch.