How to share a private photo with your friends
Updated
For a photo to stay private, it has to be end-to-end encrypted, sent only to the right people, protected from screenshots and saving, then deleted automatically. Plenty of apps offer some of these protections, often as options. On waited, they’re all on by default, and on top of that your friend has to wait before seeing your photo.
The 6 things to check before sending a private photo
- End-to-end encryption: only your recipient can open the photo, not the service carrying it. Without it, the photo can be read on the servers.
- Hand-picked recipients: no public feed, no story open to everyone. The photo goes to one person, or a few specific friends.
- No screenshots: ideally they’re blocked; failing that, you get told.
- No saving: a photo that can’t be saved to the gallery doesn’t end up in an online backup.
- View once: a photo that opens only once gets passed around less.
- Automatic deletion: a photo that no longer exists can’t leak, from your friend’s phone or from the servers.
Sending a private photo with waited, step by step
- Add your friend: on waited, you have to follow each other to swap photos.
- Tap the big 📸 button in the middle and take your photo (or pick one from your gallery).
- Choose how long your friend will wait, from 1 hour to 30 days, or ⚡ instant. Add challenges if you like.
- Check the protections: view once, screenshots blocked, no saving and deletion after 7 days are already on.
- Pick one or more friends, and send. You have 2 minutes to cancel.
What waited protects, and what nothing can
Your photo is encrypted on your phone: our servers can’t see it. It only opens in your friend’s app, and leaves the screen as soon as the app goes to the background.
No app, however, can stop someone from photographing the screen with another phone. The best protection is still to only send a photo to someone you trust. All the details: how waited protects your photos.
What about intimate photos?
waited doesn’t allow nudity and isn’t made for it: under 18, an on-phone check blocks these photos. If someone pressures you to send one, or threatens to share a photo of you, don’t give in: block, report, and talk to someone. The app’s “Help and safety” screen lists who can help.
Frequently asked questions
Which app should I use to send a private photo?
One that end-to-end encrypts photos and offers at least view once, screenshot blocking and automatic deletion. waited turns all of that on by default, for photos between friends only.
How do I send a photo without it being saved?
With an app that prevents saving and blocks screenshots. On waited, that’s the default: your photo never leaves the app, unless you let your friend save it.
Can I send a private photo to several friends?
Yes: pick several friends when sending. The photo is encrypted once, its key is sealed for each of them, and each one unlocks it on their own.
What should I do if a private photo was shared without my consent?
Don’t delete the evidence, report the photo to the site or app showing it, and talk to someone you trust. In the UK, Childline’s Report Remove helps under-18s get a nude image taken down; in the US, the NCMEC CyberTipline takes reports. Take It Down (under 18) and StopNCII.org (18 and over) stop it from spreading on participating platforms.
Want to try it?
waited is free, on iPhone and Android.