Does WhatsApp Notify Screenshots? (Complete Guide for Privacy)

WhatsApp has become part of our daily life like texting, friends, family, or office colleagues, while sharing files, photos, or videos to stay connected.

But, if you are sharing private information or taking a screenshot of someone’s chat, you may be worried to know does WhatsApp notifies screenshots.

Contrary to Snapchat, which immediately notifies you if someone takes a screenshot of your Snaps or chats, WhatsApp works a little differently.

In this guide, I have discussed does WhatsApp notifies screenshots and how you can block screenshotting on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp does not send notifications when you take a screenshot of regular chats, group conversations, profile, or status updates.

This means if you capture a chat or a status, the other person won’t be notified. For example:

• If you screenshot a funny message from a friend → They won’t know.
• If you capture a group conversation → Nobody will get an alert.
• If you screenshot someone’s status → They will not receive any notification.

There is only one way to block someone from screenshotting on WhatsApp: is View Once feature. You can use the View Once feature to send photos or videos does not allow taking a screenshot. 

The message disappears after being opened. If you send a message on View Once:

• The recipient cannot screenshot or screen record this media.
• If they try, the screen will appear black or the capture will be blocked.

However, as WhatsApp does not notify screenshots, you should always be careful about what you share. 

Here are some tips:

• Do not share very personal data like photos or videos unless you use View Once.
• Use disappearing messages if you don’t want chats to stay forever.
• Remember, screenshots can be saved or shared without your knowledge.

Restrict Who Can See Your Status

If you don’t want someone to screenshot your photo, video, or other data from your status, then you can also use the option to restrict who can see your status. 

Here is how you can restrict who can see your status:

• Go to Settings > Privacy > Status.
• Choose “My Contacts Except…” or “Only Share With…” to limit who sees your updates.

This doesn’t block screenshots completely, but ensures only trusted people can view your status.

• User Privacy Balance: WhatsApp wants to give freedom in chats without constantly tracking user actions.
• Technical Simplicity: Snapchat is built around disappearing content, WhatsApp mainly focuses on long-term conversations.
• Control via Features: Instead of alerts, WhatsApp introduced disappearing messages and “View Once” media to protect privacy.

WhatsApp does not notify users when someone takes a screenshot of chats, statuses, or group messages. You cannot completely stop someone from taking a screenshot on WhatsApp chats or statuses, but you can protect yourself with some features like View Once, Disappearing Messages, and restricting Status privacy settings.

So, always think twice before you share anything private because once a screenshot is taken, it’s out of your control.