Does WhatsApp Notify Screenshots?

One common question is whether WhatsApp tells the other person when you screenshot a chat or a Status. The simple answer is no – WhatsApp does not alert people if you take a screenshot of a conversation or a Status. This applies to one-on-one chats and group chats on both Android and iOS.

In other words, if you snap a picture of your WhatsApp chat, the other person won’t get any notification. WhatsApp’s own help and expert guides confirm that no screenshot alerts are sent for chats or status updates.

The only notable exceptions are special privacy features (which we’ll explain), but for ordinary messages and Status screens, no, people can’t see that you took a screenshot.

WhatsApp Chats and Groups: No Alerts for Screenshots

Whether it’s a private (1-on-1) chat or a group conversation, WhatsApp does not notify anyone when a screenshot is taken. This is true on both Android and iPhone – there’s no difference between platforms. In fact, WhatsApp explicitly notes that screenshot blocking (for profile photos) is enforced on both supported Android and iOS devices. But beyond that one case (profile pics – see below), normal chats and group messages have no screenshot detection.

You can screenshot any normal text or media in a WhatsApp chat, and the sender or other group members will not see any alert or message saying “X took a screenshot.”
WhatsApp’s design simply doesn’t include any screenshot notification system for chats.

That means if you want to save a message or photo from a chat, you are free to do so without the sender knowing. Of course, you should always respect privacy and avoid sharing someone else’s personal info without consent, but WhatsApp itself won’t notify the other person.

WhatsApp Status (Stories): Can They Tell?

What about WhatsApp Status (the short-lived stories that disappear after 24 hours)? The answer is also no notification. If you take a screenshot of someone’s status, WhatsApp will not notify them. In fact, expert guides explain that WhatsApp has no mechanism to alert a user when their Status is screen-captured. You can freely screenshot or even video-record a friend’s Status update, and they won’t be notified.

It’s worth noting that while screenshots aren’t reported, WhatsApp does show the Status owner who viewed their story (with a view list). So if you want to discover if someone saw your Status, you can check that list – but even then, you wouldn’t know if they specifically took a screenshot.

In summary: No, WhatsApp does not show or alert anyone if you screenshot their Status updates. The person who posted the Status only sees that you viewed it, not that you captured the screen.

Special Cases: Disappearing and View-Once Messages

WhatsApp has introduced some privacy features like Disappearing Messages and View Once media. These are meant to give extra privacy, but how do they behave with screenshots?

Disappearing Messages: When you turn this on for a chat, new messages auto-delete after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days (your choice). However, they are not screenshot-proof. You can still screenshot a disappearing message, and WhatsApp will not notify the sender. This is unlike some other apps (for example, Instagram’s Vanish Mode), which do alert on screenshots. In fact, WhatsApp’s official guides make it clear that disappearing messages are not as secretive – you can capture them normally, and WhatsApp won’t complain. So use them to limit how long messages stick around, but remember, anyone can still copy or screenshot them while they exist.
View-Once Media: WhatsApp’s View Once feature (introduced in 2021) lets you send a photo or video that disappears after the recipient opens it once. Importantly, WhatsApp blocks screenshots of View-Once media. In practice, if you try to take a screenshot of a one-time photo or video, WhatsApp will either prevent it or erase the capture. The official WhatsApp Help says, “The recipient also can’t take a screenshot of anything you send using view once.” However, this isn’t foolproof security: the WhatsApp help page warns that a recipient could still use another device’s camera or recording to capture it.

In short, WhatsApp’s View Once media can’t be screen-captured within the app, so there’s no chance for a standard screenshot alert. But everything else – chats, regular photos, disappearing messages, and Statuses – can be screenshotted without notification.

How Other Apps Handle Screenshot Notifications

It helps to compare WhatsApp to other popular apps. Unlike WhatsApp, some apps do notify when you take screenshots of messages:

Snapchat: Snapchat is famous for its disappearing snaps and stories, and it always alerts the sender if you screenshot or screen-record their content. If you screenshot a snap, story, or chat message on Snapchat, the sender will see a notification or a small icon next to your name telling them exactly that you took a screenshot. In fact, Snapchat’s whole privacy model is built around notifying on screenshots, to discourage saving private snaps without permission.
Instagram: For regular Instagram content (Stories, posts, reels), the current policy is no notification. Instagram used to test alerting users about story screenshots, but it dropped that feature. As of 2025, you can screenshot or screen-record an Instagram Story or post without the user being notified. The same goes for normal Instagram DMs (direct messages) – they don’t alert on screenshots of regular chats or images. The key exception is Vanish Mode in Instagram DMs: if you send a photo or message that is set to disappear (Vanish Mode), then taking a screenshot will notify the sender. In summary, Instagram behaves more like WhatsApp in normal chats, but Snapchat-like in vanish chats.
Telegram: Telegram’s policy depends on the platform and chat type. In a “Secret Chat” on Telegram (which is end-to-end encrypted and device-specific), iPhone users do get a notification if someone screenshots the chat. Android Secret Chats, however, currently do not alert on screenshots. Regular (non-secret) Telegram chats do not notify of screenshots. So the takeaway: on Telegram, screenshot alerts are limited to Secret Chats on iOS.
Facebook Messenger: Similar to Instagram, regular Messenger chats do not notify on screenshots. But in Vanish Mode (Messenger’s ephemeral mode), a screenshot will alert the sender – just like on Instagram.

So when we talk about apps that notify screenshots, Snapchat is a clear example that always does. Instagram and Messenger will notify in vanish/temporary modes. Telegram notifies in iOS secret chats. In contrast, WhatsApp does not notify for any of these – it won’t alert on chat, Status, or disappearing-message screenshots. One security writer puts it plainly: “Unlike WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and many other messaging apps, screenshot notifications are sent when someone screen-captures your chat or media”. In other words, WhatsApp’s approach is the most relaxed about screenshots.

Privacy Implications: What You Should Know

The fact that WhatsApp doesn’t warn about screenshots has important privacy implications. Anything you send can be saved without you knowing. Even though WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, once a message appears on someone’s screen, encryption doesn’t stop them from saving it locally by screenshot or copy.

If you share a photo or document on WhatsApp, remember the other person can screenshot or forward it. WhatsApp won’t alert you or prevent that (except for View Once photos). Treat chat content with care.
Because disappearing messages aren’t screenshot-proof, always think before you share. Even if the messages will be deleted later, someone can still save them right now.
On the flip side, if you’re taking screenshots of someone else’s chats or Status, know that they have no built-in way to detect or stop you. That can be useful, but also unethical if you share it without permission. Remember, WhatsApp’s privacy model relies on trust – users assume others won’t misuse screenshots even though WhatsApp itself doesn’t enforce it.
WhatsApp has taken some measures to block screenshots of certain private elements. For example, you cannot screenshot someone’s profile picture in the mobile app. WhatsApp says it “blocks users from taking screenshots of profile photos” on both Android and iOS. (Note: this block doesn’t apply to WhatsApp Web or desktop – those can still screenshot.) Also, as mentioned, View-Once media can’t be captured in-app. But outside of those cases, assume screenshots are possible.

In short, always be cautious. WhatsApp itself encourages users to “respect other users’ privacy” when it comes to screenshots. If you don’t want something screenshotted or widely shared, consider not sending it or using extra precautions.

Tips to Protect Your Private Content on WhatsApp

Even though WhatsApp doesn’t notify on screenshots, there are steps you can take to better safeguard your privacy and make it harder for others to capture your content:

Use View-Once Media for Sensitive Photos/Videos: For images or videos you really don’t want saved, use the “View Once” option. Recipients can see it only once, and they can’t take a normal screenshot of it. This adds a layer of protection (though remember someone could still use another phone’s camera).
Enable Disappearing Messages: For private conversations, turn on disappearing messages. This auto-deletes your messages after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. It reduces the window for someone to screenshot an old message. Note: disappearing messages don’t prevent screenshots, but they limit how long the content remains.
Manage Privacy Settings: Go to Settings > Account > Privacy and tighten who can see your info. Hide your Profile Photo, Last Seen, About, Status, etc., from everyone except your trusted contacts. For example, you can set “Status” to be visible only to certain people or exclude specific contacts. The less info on your profile, the less someone can screenshot.
Use Chat Lock or App Lock: WhatsApp now lets you lock individual chats behind a PIN or fingerprint (Chat Lock), and you can also lock the entire app using your phone’s security features. If someone briefly grabs your phone, Chat Lock adds an extra barrier. (WhatsApp’s team highlights “chat lock” as a privacy layer.)
Advanced Chat Privacy (new feature): WhatsApp has rolled out a feature called Advanced Chat Privacy (as of 2025). When enabled, it prevents people in a chat from exporting, copying, or auto-saving the conversation and media. In practice, it means they can’t easily take your chat content outside the app, for instance, by forwarding or auto-downloading. You can turn this on from the chat’s info screen. This new tool is designed so group members can have “greater confidence that no one can take what is being said outside the chat”.
Think Before You Share: Ultimately, the best protection is common sense. Don’t send highly sensitive personal documents or passwords over chat unless absolutely necessary. Remember that a determined person could always copy or photograph content. If it’s that secret, maybe it shouldn’t be sent at all.
Lock Your Phone and Use 2FA: Make sure your phone is secured with a passcode or fingerprint. Also, enable WhatsApp’s two-step verification for your account so strangers can’t easily install WhatsApp on another device with your number.
Stay Updated: Keep WhatsApp updated. New privacy features (like the Advanced Chat Privacy) are added over time. Using the latest version ensures you have the newest protections.

By combining these precautions – using view-once, disappearing messages, strict privacy settings, and new chat locks – you can better protect your WhatsApp content. But remember: no app can completely stop someone from capturing what’s on screen.

WhatsApp itself even notes that if you care about privacy, you should trust who you send view-once media to, since they could photograph it externally. In general, follow the advice: “Avoid sharing personal information” on chats or statuses to begin with.

Conclusion

In summary, WhatsApp does not notify anyone when you take a screenshot of their chat, group messages, or Status. This contrasts with apps like Snapchat (which always sends an alert) or Instagram/Messenger vanish mode (which alerts in special disappearing-message chats). On WhatsApp, only View-Once media and profile pictures are protected from screenshots.

Because of this, be aware of your WhatsApp screenshot privacy: others can save your content unseen, and you can save theirs without warning. Use WhatsApp’s privacy features (view-once, disappearing messages, chat locks, etc.) and be careful about what you share. By doing so, you can help keep your private conversations and media more secure.