IN-APP VIEW ONLY in Pure: why photos and videos will not open, and how to view them

What the "IN-APP VIEW ONLY" badge in Pure means

If you chat in the Pure web version (through the pure.app site in a desktop browser) and your match sends a photo or video in a private message, instead of the media you see a grey placeholder that reads "IN-APP VIEW ONLY". Literally, it means the file can be viewed only in the app. The file seems to be there — but you cannot open it in the browser.

This is not a bug or a glitch and not an "unpaid feature". It is intentional on Pure's side: photos and videos sent in chats are shown only in the mobile app, while on the web they are hidden behind the badge. So looking for the "right button" or refreshing the page will not help — in the plain web version these media simply will not open.

Where photos and videos open, and where they do not

Where you view media from private chats	Photos and videos
Pure mobile app (phone)	Open normally
Pure web version (pure.app in a browser)	Locked behind "IN-APP VIEW ONLY" — cannot open
Web version + OnlyLike extension	Open right in the desktop browser

How to view the photos and videos you were sent

There are essentially two ways, and they cover different situations.

Option 1: open it in the mobile app

The most obvious option is to pick up your phone and view the same message in the Pure app. The downside is clear: you have to switch from computer to phone every time a photo or video arrives in a chat. If you mostly use the web version on a big screen, that is inconvenient.

Option 2: remove the badge with the OnlyLike extension

The OnlyLike browser extension embeds on top of the Pure web version and removes the "IN-APP VIEW ONLY" limitation — photos and videos sent in private chats open right in the browser, without switching to your phone. You stay on pure.app, in a comfortable environment with a big screen and a proper keyboard, and see media from chats just as you would in the app.

It is worth understanding the scope: this works specifically for the web version of Pure in a desktop browser — the extension does not replace the app and does not "hack" Pure, it only removes the badge on the web. Installation takes a couple of minutes: download the OnlyLike extension, the first day is free, with installation through the Telegram bot @OnlyLikeOfficialBot. Besides removing "IN-APP VIEW ONLY", the same extension works as an autoclicker for Pure, placing likes for you automatically.

Frequently asked questions about "IN-APP VIEW ONLY"

What does "IN-APP VIEW ONLY" mean?

Literally, "viewable only in the app". It is a status Pure puts on photos and videos sent in private chats in the web version: you can view them in the mobile app, while in the browser a placeholder is shown instead of the media.

Can these photos be opened directly in the browser?

In the plain web version — no, the badge is not removed by standard means. The OnlyLike extension is what lets you open the media in a desktop browser: it removes the "IN-APP VIEW ONLY" limitation on the web.

Why does Pure hide media on the web at all?

It is Pure's own decision: the company shows photos and videos sent in chats only in the mobile app. Pure does not comment on the exact reason, so we will not speculate — we simply note how it works and what you can do about it.

The bottom line

The "IN-APP VIEW ONLY" badge in Pure is not an error but a deliberate limitation of the web version: photos and videos sent in private chats will not open in the browser. You can view them either in the mobile app or by removing the limitation on the web with the OnlyLike extension — then media from chats opens right on your computer. If you are interested in the web version itself and how to log in, there is a separate Pure web version page, and for automating likes, see the autoclicker for Pure.