WhatsApp is developing a powerful new privacy feature that will allow users to prevent others from automatically saving the media they send. This upcoming feature was recently discovered in the latest Android beta version of the app and is currently under development — so don’t expect it to roll out to everyone just yet.
The new setting will enhance user privacy by allowing senders to block recipients from auto-downloading and saving media files — such as images, videos, and documents — shared in chats. Currently, WhatsApp automatically saves all incoming media on users’ devices unless they disable it manually in settings. With this update, you can control whether someone else can save the media you send them.
This feature builds on existing behavior seen in disappearing messageswhere media isn’t saved by default. Now, WhatsApp is expanding this concept to regular messages as well, offering more control and security over your content.
The update is expected to include the following changes:
Restrict Exporting Chat Histories: Users won’t be able to export entire chat histories with individuals who’ve enabled this advanced privacy mode.
Limit Use of Meta AI: If the privacy setting is enabled, participants in the chat will not be able to use Meta AI in any way within that chat.
Message Forwarding Still Allowed: It’s worth noting that this setting does not block message forwarding — so while media auto-saving can be restricted, users can still forward messages elsewhere.
As with many WhatsApp privacy features, this one will be opt-ingiving users the flexibility to choose who and when to enable it for. The feature is still being developed, so it’s possible WhatsApp may refine or expand it further before its public release.
For privacy-conscious users, this is another big step forward in controlling personal data shared over one of the world’s most-used messaging apps.
