Recording, Screenshots and What Others Can Capture
Anyone you chat or call with can screenshot, record or forward what you share, whatever the settings. What can be captured, what WhatsApp limits, and how to share carefully.
End-to-end encryption protects your messages on the way. It cannot protect them once they reach the other person. Anyone you chat with can screenshot, forward, photograph or record what you share. Keeping that in mind is one of the simplest ways to stay safe.
What others can capture
| What you share | Can it be captured? |
|---|---|
| Normal messages and photos | Yes: screenshots, forwards, saves. |
| View once photos and videos | Screenshots are blocked on supported devices; a second camera still works. |
| Disappearing messages | Yes, before they disappear. |
| Voice and video calls | Yes, with another device or recording software. |
| Status updates | Yes, by anyone allowed to view them. |
Share carefully
- Assume anything you send could be shown to others.
- Do not share intimate images, especially with people you have not met in person. See video call blackmail.
- Avoid sending ID documents, bank details or codes. See protecting ID documents.
- Think about who can see your status. See privacy settings.
WhatsApp's advanced chat privacy setting can limit exporting chats and auto-saving media in a chat. It helps, but cannot stop screenshots or a photo of the screen.
More on these features: disappearing messages and view once. For more, see WhatsApp scam warning signs.
Frequently asked questions
Does WhatsApp tell me if someone screenshots a chat?
No, not for normal chats. View once media blocks screenshots on supported devices, but it cannot stop a photo taken with another camera.
Can someone record a WhatsApp call?
Yes, using another device or recording software. Assume anything said on a call could be recorded.
What is advanced chat privacy?
A WhatsApp setting that can limit things like exporting chats and auto-downloading media in a chat. It reduces some sharing but cannot stop screenshots or photos of the screen.
Sources
- About view once, WhatsApp Help Center
- About advanced chat privacy, WhatsApp Help Center
- About disappearing messages, WhatsApp Help Center
