You may have received a photo from a friend that you want to save for later use. In this case, you might ask yourself, “Does iMessage alert when you save a photo?”
There’s no reason to worry: iMessage will not notify the sender if you save a photo they have sent you. This is true whether you’re using an iOS or an Android device.
The sender will know that you’ve seen their message only if both of you have read receipts enabled in your settings. However, they will not be informed that you saved the included attachment.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
It’s worth noting that FaceTime has a “notify when saved” function. A notification will pop up for all participants if someone takes a live photo during a video call.
Moreover, it’s essential to remember that once someone sends a photo through iMessage, they lose control over what happens to that photo. As the recipient, you can download, screenshot, or delete the image without the sender’s knowledge or explicit consent.
This highlights the importance of being cautious when sending sensitive or private photos over any messaging platform—including iMessage—since the recipient can easily save and share these images without the sender’s consent.
For those concerned about privacy, Apple’s terms of service do not specifically cover the privacy of photos shared via their messaging services, and there are no third-party apps linked to iMessage that can inform a sender about the status of a sent photo (saved or deleted) either.
Additionally, there’s a feature available from iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 onwards called “Shared with You.” This feature automatically downloads content, such as photos, sent to you in supported apps like Photos. This can lead to a cluttering of the Photos app with iMessage photos, but there is an option to disable this automatic saving feature in the settings.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, when you save a photo from iMessage, it remains a private action known only to you, ensuring your interactions with received media remain discreet.
