WhatsApp: how to save photos or videos that can only be viewed once within the app

With the new option of WhatsAppwhich integrates ephemeral photos, that is, photographs that can only be viewed once, or videos with a single playback, some options arise so that you can save it in your gallery, in case it is some information relevant to you.

There are different options to capture that image or video that will disappear before you view it. We want to share some of them with you, but first, keep in mind that your interlocutor should always know that you will save the photo or image that they just sent you.

Use screenshots for iOS and Android

To start, the most classic and (usually) foolproof: take a screenshot. To do this, you must make sure that you know well the mechanism for taking a screenshot.

We recommend using an app for this, as the native function of Android phones does not allow taking screenshots of this type of images.

Now you just need to open WhatsApp, specifically in the chat where you have been sent a unique display photo, and you will have to open the image and take a screenshot immediately.

For iPhone there is also an option that can work for you and with which you will not have to press any button, you will only use your AssistiveTouch, to do this, you must follow the following steps:

• Open your iPhone’s settings, and select the “Accessibility” option.
• Now you must select the “Touch” option, once there, click on “AssistiveTouch”.
• If it is not activated, activate it, and in “Custom Actions” choose one of the options, for example: “Double tap”, and in the list of actions select “Screenshot”.

Now when you open the image you want to save, You will only have to press twice on your AssistiveTouch to take the screenshot,this option is also very useful for those users who have problems with the operation of the buttons on their smartphone.

Record your screen for videos with a single playback

If it is a one-time viewing video, you can use an app to record your smartphone’s screen, for example, Screen Recorder in the case of Android devices, you just have to download it from your Play Store. In general, there are many applications that offer this service, another option is Record It.

Most of these apps have similar actions, and broadly speaking, to put them into practice, you just have to grant the app permissions to use your cell phone’s camera and microphone, which usually appears automatically when you enter the app, then you must follow these steps:

• In the app that you will use to record your screen, select the option that allows you to record video. You will identify it because it usually has a red circle, which means “Rec” or “Reccord.”
• Once you are recording, exit the app and go to WhatsApp, specifically to the video that was sent to you with single viewing and play it.
• When you’re done, go back to the app you’re recording with and choose the option that allows you to stop recording. These apps usually include tools so you can recall the recording’s aspect and duration.

In case this last step is not possible for you, Remember that you also have the option to crop it from your gallery or photos application.

When you’re done, don’t forget to select save or download to gallery, so that the video stays stored on your smartphone.

If your phone is an iPhone, you just need to use the included iOS tool to record the screen. If you don’t have it activated, follow these steps:

• Go to your phone’s settings and select the “Control Center” option.
• Now click on the “Record Screen” function, which will be located in the “MORE CONTROLS” list.
• Slide the control center that appears when you drag your finger from top to bottom, and select the circle icon. When it starts recording, enter the video that was sent to you for single viewing, play it, and when it finishes, stop recording.
• Now you just need to go to your photos, select “Edit” and crop the exact fragment you want to save.

Save photos or videos without screenshot

If you have root, that is, if you have applied the rooter to your Android, which is the operation performed to expand permissions and become a superuser (with which you can make multiple changes within the operating system) you can use a file explorer to enter the folder: data/data/com.whatsapp/files/ViewOnce, where all the photos that can only be viewed once are stored.

SEE ALSO: Five tips to keep in mind to avoid being spied on WhatsApp

If you are interested in rooting your Android, Don’t forget to thoroughly review the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure.

You can also use some applications like Magisk or Xposed, where you can disable FLAG_SECURE, which is Android’s protection against screenshots. Once you install it, you must activate the LSPosed Modules tab, an option that will appear on the screen and enable it to work on WhatsApp. Don’t forget to restart your phone when finished, this way you can take screenshots.