WhatsApp introduced a screenshot lock for Android devices in October 2022. The change came hand in hand with the new feature of sending “view-only messages” so that no one can use the screenshot feature to bypass the restriction.
Since February of this year, the screenshot lock also applies to profile pictures. It is no longer possible to take a screenshot of the image in widescreen mode. This change is intended to prevent abuse by scammers or stalkers.
This block now applies to all smartphones, as it is no longer possible to take screenshots on an iPhone either. It is already active for some users, but others have so far been spared.
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What is the screenshot lock for?
Anyone who tries to tap on someone else’s profile picture in WhatsApp and take a screenshot with their smartphone in full screen will be blocked by WhatsApp. Screenshots can no longer be taken in this view.
According to WhatsApp, this measure is aimed at protecting users’ privacy and preventing the misuse of images. While it will still be possible to open a profile picture in the chat and take a screenshot of it, the result will only be available in a smaller size and lower quality.
Additionally, photos can still be taken with another device, so it’s unclear how much protection the lock can actually provide.
WhatsApp displays replacement image on iOS
While no screenshots are taken on Android devices and the “Unable to take screenshot due to app restrictions” notification appears, iOS users are apparently getting a black image with white text in their gallery.
This informs them that the screenshot has been blocked to protect the person. Apparently, WhatsApp does not have the option to completely block screenshots in this case and uses this solution instead.
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This article was originally published in our sister publication PC-WELT and has been translated and adapted from German.
