WhatsApp has rolled out to beta testers a new feature that brings its messaging app into line with other social apps: the ability to send a photo or video that the recipient can view only once before it self-destructs.

We’ll explain in a few simple steps how to use the View Once feature… but also how to get around it.

1. Update WhatsApp first
The View Once feature is currently available only to beta testers running WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.21.14.3.

If you are a beta tester you will need to update your app, which you can do by visiting the Google Play store and checking whether an update is available for WhatsApp.

If you are not already a WhatsApp beta tester you will need to wait for more spaces in the programme to become available. Check if you can become a beta tester by searching for WhatsApp on the Google Play store and scrolling down to the bottom of the page where it says ‘Become a beta tester’: you’ll either be able to click ‘I’m in’ or you’ll see a message saying the beta programme is full.

2. Find a photo or video to share
To send a disappearing photo or video, open an existing chat with a contact or begin a new conversation. To attach an image to a message you can either tap the camera icon and take a new photo or video, or tap the paperclip icon and select one from your Gallery.

Don’t hit Send just yet…

3. Tap the View Once icon
You’ll notice a new icon has appeared in the text field just to the left of the Send button: a circle with a 1 in the middle. Tap this icon.

Send disappearing photos and video on WhatsApp
The first time you do so you’ll get a pop-up informing you that the media will be removed from the conversation after the recipient has opened and viewed it once. Hit Ok and this View Once icon should go from white to green.

4. Send the message
Tap the Send button and a message will appear in the conversation thread that shows the View Once icon and confirms that a photo or video has been sent, but you are unable to see the media itself.

Send disappearing photos and video on WhatsApp
After the media has been viewed the message will change from ‘Photo’ or ‘Video’ to ‘Opened’ and the 1 will disappear from the icon. Your recipient will see the same message on their phone, and will no longer be able to view that media.

How to screenshot photos on WhatsApp without the sender knowing
In the pop-up that appears when you first use View Once, you are told that it is there to improve privacy, but warned that the recipient can still take a screenshot or recording.

What WhatsApp doesn’t tell you is that unlike other social apps (for example Snapchat and Instagram), it will not notify you if someone does exactly that. This means your photo or video that you thought would self-destruct might actually still be floating around somewhere without your knowledge.