WhatsApp introduced a screenshot lock for Android devices back in October 2022. The change went hand in hand with the new function for sending “one-time view messages” so that nobody could use the screenshot function to circumvent the restriction.
Since February this year, the screenshot lock has also applied to profile pictures. You can no longer take a screenshot of the image in the large view. The change was intended to prevent abuse by scammers or bullies.
This lock 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 does the screenshot lock do?
Anyone who tries to tap on someone else’s profile picture in WhatsApp and take a screenshot with their smartphone in full view will be blocked by WhatsApp. Screenshots may no longer be taken in this view.
According to WhatsApp, the aim of this measure is to protect users’ privacy and prevent the misuse of images. Although you can still open a profile picture in the chat and then screenshot it, the result will only be available in a smaller size and lower quality.
In addition, pictures can still be photographed with another device. It is therefore unclear to what extent the lock can really provide protection.
WhatsApp shows replacement image on iOS
While no screenshot is taken on Android devices and the notification “Screenshot cannot be taken due to app restrictions” appears, iOS users apparently receive 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 originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and adapted from German.
Author: Laura Pippig, Staff Writer, PC-WELT
Laura is an enthusiastic gamer as well as a movie and TV fan. After studying communication science, she went straight into a job at PCMagazin and Connect Living. Since then, she has been writing about everything to do with PCs and technology topics, and has been a permanent editor at our German sister site PC-WELT since May 2024.