WhatsApp allows users to send photos and videos that disappear from a chat after the recipient has opened them once. This feature ensures more privacy because your photo and video won’t be saved on the recipient’s device. Additionally, WhatsApp won’t allow you to take a screenshot of anything received as ‘View Once’.
The ‘View Once’ feature has two main benefits. While it enhances privacy on WhatsApp, it also prevents excessive media storage on your device. However, if you want to save ‘View Once’ photos and videos on WhatsApp, there are a couple of workarounds. Here’s how to do it.
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How to Download View Once Photos and Videos on WhatsApp?
Caution: If you intend to save ‘View Once’ photos or videos sent by someone, it’s essential to respect the sender’s privacy and obtain their explicit permission.
Here are two methods to save WhatsApp photos and videos. In my testing, the first method, Using WhatsApp Web, is more reliable than the second method, which uses the universal chat app Beeper.
Method 1: Save Photos and Videos Using WhatsApp Web and Chrome Extension
If you use WhatsApp Web on your computer, you can save ‘View Once’ photos and videos to your PC using the ‘View Once Photos Bypass’ Chrome extension. This extension works with any chromium-based browser, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Brave.
1. First, install the ‘View Once Photos Bypass for WhatsApp Web’ extension on your Google Chrome browser (link).
2. Next, open WhatsApp web on Chrome browser and link to your account.
3. Now, open a ‘View Once’ media. It will not disappear and shows as a regular media file.
4. You will be now able to view it several times, take screenshots, or download it until you open it on your phone.
Method 2: Save WhatsApp View Once Photos and Videos Using Beeper App
Beeper is a universal messaging app that lets you access chats from different messaging apps into one dashboard. It supports fourteen messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Discord, Google Messages, Slack and Facebook Messenger.
As of this writing, WhatsApp within Beeper doesn’t have ‘View Once’ restrictions. So you can view the media multiple times, save, or take screenshot.
1. Download and install the Beeper app on your Android or iPhone (link).
2. After installation, launch Beeper app and sign up with the service.
3. Next, connect your WhatsApp account with Beeper. Once done, all your chats will appear in Beeper.
4. Now, when someone sends you a ‘View Once’ photo or video, it will appear as a regular file in Beeper. So, you can save it on your phone.
Caution: Above two workarounds may violate WhatsApp’s terms of service, so use them at your own risk.
