NO SUSWhich apps block or notify view-once screenshots?
WhatsApp, Messenger and Telegram say a screenshot of their view-once photos and videos is blocked. Snapchat, Instagram's vanish mode and Messenger's disappearing messages allow one but tell the sender. Signal does neither. Instagram's own pages disagree about its view-once photos. All six say another phone's camera still works.
Last checked on each app's own help pages.
Screenshot rules, app by app
- Blocks
- The app says a screenshot can't be taken.
- Notifies
- A screenshot can be taken. The sender is told if the app detects it.
- Neither
- A screenshot can be taken. No alert is described.
- Unclear
- The app's own help pages disagree.
- Not documented
- The app's help pages don't say.
Scroll the table sideways for every column.
| App and feature | Covers | Screenshot | Screen recording | Android vs iPhone | Computer or web | Another phone's camera | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsAppView once | Photos, videos, voice messages | BlocksBlocked for photos and videos. | Blocked for photos and videos. The phone's own screen recorder may capture voice audio. | Same on Android and iPhone. | Not on WhatsApp Web or Windows. | Works. WhatsApp says so. |
|
| WhatsAppDisappearing messages | Every new message in the chat, after 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days | Not documentedNo block or alert described. | Not documented. | Not documented. | On Web and Mac. No screenshot rule described. | Works. WhatsApp says so for view once. | |
| InstagramView once or View twice | Photos and videos in chats | UnclearOne page says screenshots are "now disabled". Two say the sender sees one if detected. | Not documented. | Same text on Android and iPhone. | Not on computers. | Works. Instagram says so for vanish mode. |
|
| InstagramVanish mode and disappearing messages | Text, photos, videos. Not in every country | NotifiesAllowed. The sender is notified if Instagram detects one. | Allowed. No alert described. | Same text on Android and iPhone. | Not on computers. | Works. Instagram says so. | |
| MessengerView once | Photos and videos. Still rolling out | BlocksBlocked. | Blocked. | Same text on Android and iPhone. | Not on computers. | Works. Meta says so for disappearing messages. |
|
| MessengerDisappearing messages | Every message in an end-to-end encrypted chat | NotifiesEveryone in the chat is notified if Meta detects one. It may miss some. | Same: notified if detected. | Same text on Android and iPhone. | Not on computers. | Works. Meta says so. | |
| TelegramView once and self-destruct timer | Photos and videos in 1-on-1 chats. Voice and video messages too | BlocksTelegram says screenshots "will not work" on photos and videos; its FAQ says it "will try" to notify. Not stated for voice or video messages. | Not documented. | Not documented. | Not documented. | Works. Telegram says so. |
|
| TelegramSecret chats | Every message, with a self-destruct timer | NotifiesTelegram "will try" to alert you and says alerts can be bypassed. | Not documented. | Detection can fail on some Android devices. | Only on the device that started the chat. | Works. Telegram says so. | |
| TelegramDisable Sharing | Everything in a 1-on-1 chat. Telegram Premium only | BlocksBlocks screenshots and saving media. | Not documented. | Not documented. | Not documented. | Works. Telegram says so. | |
| SnapchatSnaps and Chats | Photos and videos (Snaps), text (Chats) | NotifiesAllowed. The sender sees a screenshot icon. | Not documented. | Not documented. | Snapchat for Web: screenshots possible. Whether the sender is told: not documented. | Works. Snapchat says so. | |
| SignalView-once media and disappearing messages | Photos and videos (view once). Any message, on a timer of up to 4 weeks | NeitherNot blocked, unless the receiver turns on Screen Security on their own phone. No alert described. | Not documented. | Not documented. | Works on Signal Desktop, which blocks screenshots on Windows 11 by default. | Works. Signal says so. |
Numbers link to the help page each row comes from; the full list is under Sources. "Not documented" means we found nothing on the app's own pages, not that the feature is missing.
What no app stops
- Another phone's camera. All six apps say it still works.
- An alert comes after the screenshot exists. It tells you; it doesn't undo it.
- Detection can miss. Telegram and Meta both say so.
Where NO SUS fits
NO SUS sends a note or files as a link that opens once. A browser can't block screenshots, so whoever opens it on the web can capture it. The NO SUS Android app blocks screenshots in its PDF viewer. A camera can still photograph any screen.
Read the detail
- BlogScreenshot View Once: Instagram, Telegram, Messenger, Signal
- BlogScreenshot or Screen Record WhatsApp View Once? Both Blocked
- BlogDo Disappearing Messages Really Disappear? What 5 Apps Keep
- BlogTelegram Secret Chat vs WhatsApp Disappearing Messages: What's Safe?
- How-toSend a PDF as view once on WhatsApp
Cite this table
NO SUS, "View-once screenshot table", nosus.foo/view-once-screenshot-table/, checked 25 October 2026.
Rows can be linked one by one, like Telegram secret chats. Seen a help page change? Write to shubhamsahu@nosus.foo.