Check out the new Android 14's screenshot detection system in action

In recent years, Android OS has been getting some additional privacy and security options. Now, Android 14 brought a new feature for those looking for more privacy in their conversations: a screenshot detection system that will notify you if the other party takes a screenshot.

Previously, Google had already introduced a system in Android that prevented taking screenshots or screen recordings in conversations, groups or messages set as ‘private’ (if the app supported this feature). For example, if you tried to take a screenshot of WhatsApp self-destructing photos or from a Telegram private group, the image (or video) would only show a solid black color.

However, it’s noteworthy that there were still some special methods that allowed this restriction to be bypassed, so the user privacy was still at potential risk since the other party could take a screenshot of the conversation without giving clues of it.

Now, the new Android 14’s screenshot detection API can notify you if another person in the conversation took a screenshot, similar to how Snapchat works. Being an API, developers will have to integrate it into their apps.

The API operation was spotted by Android Police tipster Ibrahim. According to the report, the Android 14 screenshot detection system not only notifies you when another person in the conversation takes a screenshot, but that person also receives a notice that their screenshot was detected by you to offer full transparency.

Also, it is not exclusive to messaging apps but can be implemented in any app. For instance, the report includes an image showing how OTTO (a German shopping app) detected that the user took a screenshot.

Anyway, this system is not totally infallible either, since there are still some ways to bypass it. The Android 14 screenshot detection API works only with screenshots taken using hardware buttons (and possibly gestures on custom skins that allow it), so screenshots taken via ADB commands or root mods/apps will not be detected.

Also, it is not yet clear if the API will detect screenshots taken from the recent apps (multitasking) screen. However, we are talking about particular or ‘niche’ situations, so developers will surely appreciate this improvement in terms of privacy to easily offer screenshot-warning notifications to their users. Also, using the methods mentioned above is more complicated than the ones that worked before.

Like HDR Ultra format support, the screenshot detection system is exclusive to Android 14, so this time not everyone will receive the feature via Play Services update. So, you will need your device to receive the latest Android version or purchase a new one to be able to take advantage of it once the apps have integrated the new API.