View-once media on Telegram: photos, videos, voice and round videos
How to send a view-once photo, video, voice message or round video on Telegram: where to tap, what the recipient sees, how the timer works and whether screenshots are possible.
You can send a photo, a video, a voice message or a round video message on Telegram so that it can be opened only once — after that it is deleted. For photos and videos there is a View Once icon in the media editor; for voice and video messages there is the same icon while you record. Telegram describes this mode for 1-on-1 chats.
What can be sent as view-once
- Photos and videos. Telegram lets you choose how long they stay visible after opening: from View Once up to 30 seconds.
- Voice messages and round videos. They can be played once, then they delete themselves.
Telegram added the View Once setting for voice and video messages in January 2024.
How to send a view-once photo or video
- Open a private chat and pick the photo or video you want to send.
- In the media editor, tap the View Once icon.
- Choose the time: from View Once to 30 seconds.
- Send it — your friend will see the media without being able to return to it later.
This is how Telegram describes it for the mobile apps. For Telegram on a computer, the official descriptions do not name a way to send view-once media, so this guide does not either.
How to send a view-once voice message or round video
- Open a private chat and hold the record button.
- Swipe up to lock the recording.
- Before sending, tap the View Once icon.
- Send the message.
What the recipient sees
A photo or video can be opened once: when the recipient opens it, it is permanently deleted from the chat. If you chose a timer, the countdown starts the moment your friend opens the photo or video, and when it runs out the media disappears.
A voice message or a round video plays once, and then the message is deleted.
Can the recipient take a screenshot
Telegram says that saving and taking screenshots will not work for view-once media. That is protection inside the app: it does not stop someone from photographing the screen with another phone, so send view-once media only if you accept that risk.
How secret chats differ
The self-destruct timer exists in regular private chats and in Secret Chats. In regular chats it applies to media; in Secret Chats it applies to all messages. The clock starts the moment the message is displayed on the recipient's screen, and when time runs out the message disappears from both devices.
In Secret Chats Telegram tries to alert you about screenshots, but admits it may still be possible to bypass such notifications.
View-once is not paid media for Stars
A paid photo or video for Stars is a different thing: it is posted in a channel and can be opened only by paying with Stars. More in photos and videos for Stars.
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a photo on Telegram so it can be viewed once?
Pick the photo or video in a private chat, tap the View Once icon in the media editor and choose the time. For a voice message or round video, hold the record button, swipe up and tap that icon before sending.
Can I send view-once media in a group or a channel?
Telegram describes View Once for 1-on-1 chats. There is no such mode in its descriptions for groups or channels.
How do I send a view-once round video on Telegram?
Hold the round video record button, swipe up to lock the recording and tap View Once before sending. Your friend can watch it once, then it is deleted.
Can someone screenshot a view-once photo?
According to Telegram, saving and taking screenshots will not work for view-once media. The protection does not stop another device from photographing the screen.
How is View Once different from the timer on a photo?
It is the same choice: View Once is the shortest option, and the timer goes up to 30 seconds. The countdown starts when your friend opens the photo or video.
