Recommended Free Tools
Turn off WhatsApp link previews. On Android, open WhatsApp and go to ⋮ > Settings > Privacy > Advanced, then enable Disable link previews. On iPhone, open WhatsApp > Settings > Privacy > Advanced and enable the same switch. WhatsApp says that links you send will then no longer generate a link preview.
What the setting changes
A WhatsApp link preview is the card that can appear above a URL you paste into a message. It may contain a page title, description, domain name and thumbnail image. The Disable link previews control is an account-level privacy setting in WhatsApp. It is not a phone setting, browser extension or separate app.
When enabled, WhatsApp prevents previews for links you send. The documented behavior is global rather than a per-message thumbnail editor: the available control turns previews off for your outgoing links instead of letting you pick which individual messages receive a card.
Turn off link thumbnails on Android
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Choose Settings.
- Open Privacy.
- Tap Advanced.
- Turn on Disable link previews.
Return to a chat and paste a URL into the compose box. The message should contain the bare link without a generated thumbnail when you send it. If a preview was already inserted before you changed the setting, remove the draft and paste the URL again so WhatsApp can process it under the new setting.
#1 Best Overall
- [2 Pack] This product includes 2 pack privacy screen protectors.WORKS FOR iPhone 17e/16e/14/iPhone 13/13 Pro 6.1 Inch tempered glass screen protector.Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps.[Not for iPhone 16 6.1 inch, iPhone 13 mini 5.4 inch, iPhone 13 Pro Max/iPhone 14 Pro Max/iPhone 14 Plus 6.7 inch, iPhone 14 Pro 6.1 inch]
- Specialty: to enhance compatibility with most cases, the Tempered glass does not cover the entire screen. HD ultra-clear rounded glass for iPhone 17e/16e/14/iPhone 13/13 Pro is 99.99% touch-screen accurate.
- 99.99% High-definition clear hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints.
- High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers,screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen.Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions.(Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
- Online video installation instruction: Easiest Installation - removing dust and aligning it properly before actual installation,enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.
Turn off link thumbnails on iPhone
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap Settings in the bottom navigation.
- Choose Privacy.
- Open Advanced.
- Turn on Disable link previews.
Paste a link into a new message after enabling the switch. The outgoing message should show the URL without a rich preview card.
Android and iPhone compared
| Question | Android | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Where does the process start? | Three-dot menu | Settings tab |
| Settings path | Settings > Privacy > Advanced | Settings > Privacy > Advanced |
| Switch name | Disable link previews | Disable link previews |
| Scope | Account-level control for links you send; not documented as a per-message editor | |
WhatsApp can move labels or reorganize menus in later releases. If you do not see Advanced, update WhatsApp from your device’s app store, reopen the app and look under Privacy for a link-preview control. Do not assume that a similarly named operating-system privacy setting controls WhatsApp previews.
Why you might want previews disabled
Previews are convenient, but creating one can involve fetching information from the destination site. The Electronic Frontier Foundation warns: “Link previews can reveal sensitive information about you to the website you are linking to.” That matters when a URL contains a tracking token, invitation code, private document identifier or other information you would rather not expose through an automatic fetch.
- Privacy: a bare URL avoids the automatic preview request associated with a rich card.
- Predictable messages: recipients see the link itself instead of an image that may change or disappear.
- Less visual clutter: long conversations contain fewer large cards.
- Control over sensitive URLs: tracking parameters and one-time links are not accompanied by an unsolicited page fetch.
The EFF guide discussing this behavior was reviewed March 10, 2026 and lists WhatsApp version 26.8.76. Menu wording can differ in other releases, so treat that version reference as a date-specific guide rather than a guarantee for every installation.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #2
- Perfect Fit for iPhone 17 Pro Max：Engineered exclusively for iPhone 17 Pro Max with seamless edge-to-edge coverage, ensuring precise alignment and reliable full-screen protection.
- Advanced Privacy Protection：Features a 28° privacy filter with smooth 2.5D curved edges, preventing side glances in public. Your screen remains visible only to you—ideal for commuting, traveling, and crowded environments.
- Effortless Installation：Equipped with an auto dust-elimination tool that delivers a fast, accurate, and bubble-free application, keeping your screen perfectly clear with minimal effort.
- Military-Grade Protection：Made of nano-reinforced 9H tempered glass, SGS certified. Provides 5X stronger scratch resistance and proven durability, withstanding thousands of pressure and impact tests.
- Smudge & Fingerprint Resistant：Hydrophobic and oleophobic coating repels fingerprints, sweat, and oil—ensuring your screen stays clean, clear, and smooth to the touch.
Can you remove a thumbnail for only one message?
The documented WhatsApp control is global for links you send. The available instructions do not establish a supported per-message switch that keeps previews on generally but removes one card. If you need a single bare-link message, the reliable documented approach is to enable Disable link previews, send the link, and then decide whether to leave the setting enabled or turn it off again for later messages.
Turning the setting off after sending does not retroactively add a preview to a message already sent, and turning it on does not edit cards that recipients already received. It governs preview generation when links are sent under the current setting.
WhatsApp Web and desktop behavior
The authoritative material for this procedure documents the mobile Android and iPhone paths only. It does not establish whether WhatsApp Web, the Windows app or the Mac app exposes the same switch, nor exactly how each desktop client maps preview behavior to the mobile account setting.
For that reason, treat desktop behavior as version-dependent. Change the setting in the mobile app, then send a test link from the client you actually use. If a desktop client still displays a card, check for an available privacy setting in that client and verify that both the desktop app and phone are current. Do not rely on an undocumented desktop menu path.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- [3 Pack] This product includes 3 pack privacy screen protectors.WORKS FOR iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro 6.1 Inch tempered glass screen protector. Due to the rounded edge design of the iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro and to enhance compatibility with most cases,the tempered glass screen protectors will be slightly smaller than the phone screen.[Not for iPhone 16e 6.1 inch, iPhone 15 Plus/iPhone 15 Pro Max/iPhone 16 Plus 6.7 inch,iPhone 16 Pro 6.3 inch,iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9 inch]
- Specialty: HD rounded glass for iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro 6.1 Inch is 99.99% touch-screen accurate.
- 99.99% High-definition hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints. Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps.
- High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers,screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen.Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions.(Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
- Online video installation instruction: Easiest Installation - removing dust and aligning it properly before actual installation,enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.
Testing the change
- Open a one-to-one chat with yourself or a trusted contact.
- Copy a normal HTTPS URL that does not contain private credentials.
- Paste it into a fresh message after enabling Disable link previews.
- Confirm that the compose box and sent message contain only the URL.
- If a card appears, delete the draft, force-close and reopen WhatsApp, and paste the URL again.
Testing with a harmless URL avoids accidentally sharing a private token while you diagnose the setting.
Troubleshooting when a thumbnail still appears
The switch is missing
Open the current Privacy page and look for Advanced. Update WhatsApp through the official store for your platform, restart the app and check again. Labels can move between releases; the documented route is the mobile path described above.
A preview was already in the draft
Delete the pasted URL from the compose box and paste it again after enabling the switch. A card generated before the change may remain attached to an existing draft until you remove it.
The message was sent before the change
The setting does not edit messages already delivered. Delete the old message for everyone if that option is available to you, then send the URL again with previews disabled.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #4
- [3+3 Pack] This product includes 3 pack privacy screen protectors and 3 pack camera lens protectors with Installation Frame. Works For iPhone 16 [6.1 inch] tempered glass screen protector and camera lens protector. Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps. [Not for iPhone 16e 6.1 inch, iPhone 16 Pro 6.3 inch, iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9 inch, iPhone 16 Plus 6.7 inch]
- Night shooting function: specially designed iPhone 16 6.1 Inch camera lens protective film. The camera lens protector adopts the new technology of "seamless" integration of augmented reality, with light transmittance and night shooting function, without the need to design the flash hole position, when the flash is turned on at night, the original quality of photos and videos can be restored.
- High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers, screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen. Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions. (Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
- Easiest Installation - Please watch our installation video tutorial before installation. Removing dust and aligning it properly with the help of the included installation frame before actual installation, enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.
- 99.99% High-definition clear hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints, and enhance the visibility of the screen.
Only one recipient reports seeing a card
Ask whether they are looking at an older message or a quoted/forwarded copy. Preview generation is controlled when the sender’s link is processed; a recipient’s app version can affect how an already-sent message is displayed.
The desktop client behaves differently
Desktop and Web behavior is not established by the documented mobile instructions. Send a controlled test from that client, verify the mobile account setting, and update the desktop client. Avoid assuming that a desktop preview means the mobile switch failed.
The URL contains private information
Do not use a live password-reset, invitation or authenticated URL for testing. Replace it with a public test page and revoke any sensitive link that was accidentally shared.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or skip the browser setup
If your related task is creating a clean image or PDF of a web page before sharing it in WhatsApp, ScreenshotNeo provides a website screenshot API and MCP server. It is separate from WhatsApp’s preview setting: use WhatsApp’s switch to send a bare URL, and use ScreenshotNeo when you need a captured page asset.
Best Value
- 【Industry-Leading 100% Anti-Spy Privacy Protection】Designed for iPhone 17 Pro Max. Larger iPhone screens are easier for others to glance at, so UltraGlass uses patented, SEGI-certified 25° Blackout-3 optical technology to help block side views and keep emails, banking apps, and private content visible only to you—while keeping the front view HD-clear and comfortable through hours of scrolling and streaming.
- 【Unbreakable TOP 9H+ Glass, the Excellent 2nd Screen for Your iPhone】Boasting unparalleled shatter resistance and durability. And the core excellence is the top 9H+ tempered glass material, which is widely applied in aerospace and military fields for its ① Shatter-proof ② Scratch & Wear Resistance ③ Durability that is 7-8 times higher than other materials. Thus, UltraGlass builds a second tough screen for your iPhone 17 Pro Max.
- 【Industry NO.1 Military-Grade Shatterproof】Authorized by the International Military Standard with 50+ rigorous engineering tests of 220 lbs impact, 8,000+ drop tests, 25,000+ scratch tests, etc., its strength, toughness and durability perform NO.1 among all glass. By especially breaking the industry's record with a 12ft drop, the iPhone 17 Pro Max screen protector is ensured to be unbreakable from its surface to every edge and corner.
- 【Invisible Armor, 1:1 Full Covers the iPhone's Screen】Mimicking the iPhone's original screen design, it uses a 1:1 3D curved reinforced black edge that wraps around every curve — case friendly — while securing even the most vulnerable edges. Seamlessly blending with the iPhone 17 ProMax screen, it's virtually invisible and feels like the original screen while offering enhanced full-screen protection.
- 【0 Bubbles + 0 Dust + 0 Misaligned =100% Successful Installation】Includes everything you need with pioneering automatic positioning, dust removal, and absorption technology, making the installation just effortlessly easy in seconds. No bubbles, no troubles—transforming beginners into experts!
One GET request returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP or PDF. The service can accept consent banners before capture and remove more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be disabled. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and whether it was billed. Its MCP server exposes take_screenshot, get_page_info and capture_pdf for Claude, Cursor and other MCP clients.
cURL
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://faq.whatsapp.com -o shot.webpPython
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://faq.whatsapp.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://faq.whatsapp.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for authentication and options such as full-page capture, CSS-selector element capture, device presets, retina scale, custom CSS and JavaScript, waiting for a selector or network idle, request blocking, cookies, headers, geolocation, transparent backgrounds, resizing, caching, signed links, asynchronous webhooks, bulk capture and usage data. The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account.
FAQ
Does disabling previews delete the URL?
No. The URL is still sent as text; WhatsApp simply does not generate the rich preview card for links sent while the setting is enabled.
Does this block the website from tracking clicks?
No. It prevents the preview-generation fetch described by the setting. If a recipient opens the link, the destination site can still receive that normal visit and apply its own analytics or tracking.
Will recipients’ phones still show a thumbnail?
A link sent without a generated preview should arrive as a bare link. The mobile documentation does not promise identical rendering in every client or for every forwarded and quoted message, so test the client combination that matters to you.
Is this setting the same as disabling automatic media downloads?
No. Automatic media download controls whether received photos, videos or documents are downloaded. Disable link previews controls rich cards generated for links you send.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
