Screenshot blocking

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Screenshot blocking prevents the owner of a computing device from capturing screenshots and screen recordings. Some operating systems such as Android OS and iOS let app makers block device owners from capturing screenshots and screen recordings, meaning device owners are at the mercy of app makers to allow screenshots. This ownership violation is usually excused with "protecting your privacy". Here are reasons why that is not the case, and how this feature is severely misused.

How it works

Companies tend to block screenshots for the following reasons:

• Protecting sensitive information
  • Apps that handle financial data (banks, payment apps) or confidential documents may block screenshots to reduce the risk of accidental data leaks.
  • Screenshots could be captured and shared without consent, which could expose personal information like account numbers, passwords, or private messages.
• Content protection and licensing
  • Media apps (streaming services, e-books, and some news apps) sometimes block screenshots or recordings to prevent piracy or unauthorized redistribution of copyrighted content.
• Privacy of other users
  • Messaging apps may prevent screenshots in certain contexts (like “disappearing messages”) to protect the privacy of the other party.

• Regulatory or contractual requirements
  • In some industries, companies must comply with legal rules around data protection or digital content licensing, which may include preventing local copies from being made.

Why it is a problem

Impedes ownership

On desktop operating systems like Windows and Linux, users have always been able to take screenshots or recordings of whatever is on their screen, without programs being able to block it. By contrast, many mobile apps restrict or disable this feature. This raises concerns because it limits a device owner’s ability to fully use their own phone. Since a smartphone is personal property, users should retain control over its features, including the ability to capture their own screen, rather than having that choice dictated by app developers.

Overuse

Some apps implement screenshot blocking in situations where it is unnecessary. For example, since 2018, Chrome has blocked screenshots while in incognito mode. It is unclear what this restriction is meant to protect against, given that incognito browsing already functions by not saving history or cookies. There are also many legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended.

Incidents

ALDI TALK

Earlier this year, the German cellular provider ALDI TALK blocked screenshots throughout its entire app. The app displays information such as how much high-speed data a subscriber has remaining. Blocking screenshots of such basic information seems unnecessary, and applying the restriction across the entire app because some “private” content might appear in certain sections appears excessive.

Whatsapp

The developers of WhatsApp have threatened with blocking screenshots inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:

The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots.

WhatsApp blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, excusing it with "protecting privacy". The reason this is dubious is that everyone knows putting private stuff in a visible spot on the Internet is a bad idea to begin with. This includes profile pictures.

It's a local file.​

When you take a screenshot, the screenshot is stored locally inside the encrypted internal storage of your smartphone, protected with your lockscreen credentials. It is not going to be sent to anyone unless you manually chose to do it. As a local file, it remains fully under your control.

Anyone determined enough can still photograph the screen from an external device. The only difference is that it is in a lower quality, but for alphanumerical stuff like banking details and text-based messages, that doesn't matter.

External displays​

The "SECURE" flag on Android is responsible for screenshot blocking and screen recording blocking. However, it has another purpose: It prevents content from appearing on external displays such as HDMI and Miracast (over-the-air screen mirroring).

Screen contents can only appear on an external screens if the smartphone owner has chosen to connect an external screen. If the owner does private stuff, they should disconnect the external screen anyway.

Ways to solve this would be to let the user chose which apps can appear on external displays, or let the user decide whether they want to hide content flagged by the app developers as "SECURE".

The "SECURE" flag is not just used to hide "sensitive" content, but also by streaming service providers to prevent screenshots and screen recordings, even though there are legitimate purposes for it (fair use). As a side effect, you can not connect your phone to a TV or monitor to watch on a big screen, so you have to hope the TV has native support for your streaming provider.

In any case, the device owner must have the final say.

Third-party screen recorders​

Another reason cited for screenshot/screen recorder blocking is the narrow possibility that third-party screen recorder apps contain spyware.

Third-party apps can only capture the screen if the phone owner allows them. It would make sense to let the user decide which third-party apps can capture content marked as "SECURE". But the pre-installed screenshot and screen recording tool should never be blocked because they don't contain spyware (unless the phone maker chose to put it in, in which case you would have a much greater problem). Besides, you should only use open-source screen capturing software. This way, you can be sure it isn't spyware.

In any case, there is no reason to block the built-in screenshot and screen recording tools just because misbehaving third-party apps may be out there.

Screenshot events​

Android 14 has added a "screenshot event" and Android 15 a "screen recording event". This makes it easy for apps to notice if the owner takes a screenshot or screen recording, and alter their behaviour accordingly. This takes even more control away from the device owner.