What you could know
- With Android 14, you will get a heads-up at any time when an app notices {that a} screenshot has been taken.
- Some apps, just like the German procuring app OTTO, have already carried out this characteristic.
- It is a vital change from earlier variations of Android, the place apps may solely detect screenshots utilizing workarounds.
Android 14 boosts privateness with a nifty characteristic that notifies you when somebody screenshots your chats, and a few apps are already catching on.
As noticed by an Android Police reader, the German procuring app OTTO has turn into one of many first apps to undertake Android 14‘s screenshot detection characteristic. So, while you snag a screenshot within the app, a toast message pops up, letting you understand they caught you within the act.
Google explains that Android 14 launched an API meant to make screenshot detection extra constant. This API permits apps to register callbacks for every exercise, which suggests they will get a heads-up at any time when a screenshot is taken whereas that exercise is on the display screen.
Simply to be clear, the app solely is aware of you took a screenshot, not what was truly in your display screen. The nitty-gritty particulars of what you captured are left for the app developer to determine.
After getting the heads-up, builders can get artistic with what occurs subsequent. For instance, messaging apps may let folks know when somebody takes a screenshot of their dialog.
This screenshot detection characteristic is not foolproof, although. It solely catches screenshots completed with the {hardware} buttons. So, if somebody’s feeling sneaky, they will nonetheless pull off a stealthy screenshot utilizing the “Recents” menu display screen, ADB, or a root screenshot app.
For apps that need to be further cautious about screenshots, there are older APIs that permit them utterly block the screenshot operate.
Apps like Snapchat that allow you to ship disappearing messages have been utilizing screenshot detection for ages to maintain their conversations personal. In any other case, screenshots defeat the concept of ephemeral messages.
Whereas these apps have their very own methods to catch screenshots, Android 14’s built-in screenshot detection characteristic makes it simpler for builders to maintain their customers’ privateness intact; no extra workarounds are wanted.
For the time being, not all apps have carried out the screenshot detection API but, however it’s anticipated to turn into extra extensively used sooner or later.