WhatsApp restricts users from taking screenshots of profile pictures

WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature for Android users that prevents users from taking screenshots of each other’s profile photo, in a move that underscores the company’s commitment to user privacy.

This mild but important update features an additional layer of control over users’ photos on the widely popular messaging application, according to Arihant Webtech.

A notification pop-up saying: “Can’t take a screenshot due to app restrictions”, will appear whenever a user tries to take a screenshot of any other user’s display picture on WhatsApp.

However, on the other hand, the app is set to silently block these attempts without any notification sent to the user whose photo was targeted.

This feature represents WhatsApp’s strategy of empowering users with straightforward tools to manage their personal information and content, even though it may be considered small.

Users don’t need to manually configure or opt-in to benefit from this protective capability. Meta (WhatsApp’s parent company) has not officially announced or detailed the new screenshot restrictions.

All Android versions of WhatsApp have this feature automatically set as a default. Users will not have to set it themselves. The commendable profile picture controls are aligned with WhatsApp’s past efforts regarding privacy-focused sharing options.