View-once photos, videos and voice messages in Beeper

TL;DR

Some chat networks let people send photos, videos and voice messages that can only be opened once (or replayed once, on Snapchat). Beeper respects those limits. On Beeper Desktop and Beeper Android, you can open Signal view-once photos and videos and Snapchat Snaps. For WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and Messenger view-once media, and for everything on Beeper iOS, open the message in the network's own app. You can send Snaps from Beeper with the /snap command. On other networks, you can't send view-once media from Beeper.

What is view-once media?

View-once media is a photo, video or voice message with a viewing limit set by the sender. Depending on the network, it can be:

• View once: you can open it one time.
• Replay allowed: you can open it twice (Snapchat Snaps).
• Timed: it's shown for a few seconds once you open it, then it's gone.

Beeper tries to behave like the network's own app. It won't give you a way around these restrictions, so view-once media can't be saved, downloaded or forwarded from Beeper.

Support by chat network

How to open view-once media (Signal and Snapchat)

1. Open the chat. The view-once media shows as a View photo, View video or View Snap button, without a preview. You can also use the Play button in the chat list.
2. Click or tap the button. The photo or video opens in a full-screen viewer.
3. Close the viewer when you're done. Signal media now shows as used up (for example, Expired photo) and can't be opened again. A Snap that can be replayed can be opened one more time, then it's used up.

The viewer doesn't have save, download, forward or reaction options.

Play from the chat list

On Beeper Desktop and Beeper Android, when a chat has unopened view-once media, the chat list can show a Play button. It plays the new media one after another without opening the chat.

Once the media can't be opened anymore, the chat list shows Expired photo (or video, Snap).

What happens after you view it

• Signal: you can open it one time in Beeper. Beeper then shows a note that it will disappear in 5 minutes.
• Snapchat: when you open a Snap in Beeper, Snapchat marks it as opened and the sender sees that you viewed it. A replay only counts in Beeper.

If media can't be shown, you'll see "This media is unavailable. View it in <network>." (or "This Snap is unavailable. View it in Snapchat."). Open it in the network's app.

Screenshots and screen recording

• Beeper Android blocks screenshots and screen recordings while the view-once viewer is open.
• Beeper Desktop doesn't block screenshots.

💡Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I send view-once media from Beeper?
   On Snapchat, yes: type /snap and send it, then send a photo or video without a caption as your next message (within 10 seconds). It's delivered as a Snap. On other networks, use the network's app to send view-once photos, videos or voice messages.
    
2. I see "Sent a view-once message." in a Signal chat. What is it?
   That's a view-once photo or video you sent from your phone. Beeper doesn't show the media you sent.
    
3. Why can't I see WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram or Messenger view-once media in Beeper?
   Beeper doesn't show view-once media from these networks. You'll see a note in the chat instead. Open the message in the network's app.
    
4. Why does view-once media say "View in Signal" or "View in Snapchat" on my iPhone but open on my computer?
   Opening view-once media is available on Beeper Desktop and Beeper Android, but not yet on Beeper iOS. Make sure Beeper Desktop and Beeper Android are up to date.
    
5. Which versions do I need?
   Make sure Beeper is up to date on each device.