In line with bolstering privacy, WhatsApp has started rolling out a security feature preventing users from taking profile photo screenshots. The WhatsApp screenshot-blocking feature has been available since February 2024 for most WhatsApp Beta testers. Regular users have begun to see the feature according to Android Police following a server-side update push by WhatsApp.
Screenshot-blocking will be enabled by default
Upon testing the screenshot-blocking feature on WhatsApp Beta, it comes enabled by default and there’s no way of disabling it. Any attempt to take a profile photo screenshot will result in a blank screen. On the Beta version, there’s a warning message explaining why you can’t take the screenshot.
WhatsApp removed the ability to save screenshots several years ago but this proved almost pointless since anyone could easily take a screenshot of any visible profile picture. The WhatsApp screenshot-blocking feature should address this issue once and for all.
However, you can still take screenshots of profile thumbnails from a chat screen or when viewing a contact’s profile. The thumbnails will be of significantly lower resolution but may still be clear enough especially on the profile preview screen. If this is a cause for concern to you, you can always limit your profile photo’s visibility or avoid having one altogether.
A welcome feature for enhanced WhatsApp Security
The profile photo screenshot blocking update should be one more hurdle to keep WhatsApp scammers at bay. It should also enhance privacy given that profile photos are usually personal images that you may not want in the wrong hands. You’ll have more control over who gets their hands on your photo and reduce the chances of someone impersonating you or sharing it without your consent.
You can check whether this feature is available by taking a screenshot of one of your contact’s profile images. You should get a warning message alongside a blank screen. If it’s not yet available to you—keep checking over the next couple of weeks.
You don’t need to update to the latest WhatsApp version to get this feature since it’s a server-side update. It’ll also be enabled by default so no need to adjust your settings.
