WhatsApp Could Let Users Open View-Once Content from Linked Devices Very Soon

Mark
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There’s a lot to love about WhatsApp. It’s one of the most popular messaging apps out there, and its linked devices feature makes life easier. You can use your WhatsApp account on a computer, tablet, or even another phone.

But there’s always been one frustrating issue: you can’t open ‘view once’ images, videos, or voice messages on linked devices.

That might be changing soon. According to sources, some users on WhatsApp beta for Android (version 2.25.3.7) can now see self-destructing media on their linked devices. There’s no clear reason why this wasn’t possible before, but it’s finally being addressed. Right now, the feature is only available to select beta testers. More users should get access in the coming days.

A WhatsApp support page still mentions other limits on linked devices, like not being able to see someone’s live location or create broadcast lists. But there’s no mention of this ‘view once’ restriction anymore, which could mean it’s on its way out.

At the moment, some users still see a message saying ‘Waiting for this message. This may take a while’ when trying to open ‘view once’ content on a linked device. That could change soon, but there’s no word on when this will roll out for everyone.

WhatsApp has also been working on letting users send self-destructing media from linked devices. This was first spotted in beta over a year ago, but it’s still not widely available. Hopefully, with this update, WhatsApp will finally allow both sending and receiving of disappearing messages on linked devices.

On a related note, there was recently a privacy flaw in WhatsApp that let users reopen ‘view once’ media after it was supposed to disappear. Meta patched the issue quickly, fixing it just last week.

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Mark is the kind of person who gets way too excited about new software updates and can’t resist taking apart gadgets—just to see if they can put them back together. With years of experience in tech journalism and a love for all things digital, Mark writes about the stories behind the screens, from game-changing innovations to the everyday tech that keeps life running smoothly. Outside of work, they’re the go-to “tech support” for friends and family, whether it’s fixing a printer that won’t cooperate or explaining why Grandma’s laptop keeps showing pop-ups. When Mark isn’t glued to their screen, they’re probably building their dream PC, rewatching sci-fi movies for the hundredth time, or testing a gadget that promises to “change everything.” Spoiler: they’ll let you know if it actually does.