Whatsapp disappearing messages is now available for every individual user so you can try it if you haven’t. In this feature, the messages will disappear only after 7 days and the other person has also enabled the “Disappearing messages” feature for you. This setting won’t affect messages you previously sent or received in the chat. In an individual chat, either user can turn disappearing messages on or off. In a group chat, only group admins can turn disappearing messages on or off.
- If a user doesn’t open WhatsApp in the seven day period, the message will disappear. However, the preview of the message might still be displayed in notifications until WhatsApp is opened.
- If a disappearing message is forwarded to a chat with disappearing messages off, the message won’t disappear in the forwarded chat.
- If a user creates a backup before a message disappears, the disappearing message will be included in the backup. Disappearing messages will be deleted when a user restores from a backup.
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Do note that your messages will still be visible if messages were forwarded or screenshots of messages taken.
By default, the media you receive in WhatsApp will be automatically downloaded to your photos. If disappearing messages are turned on, media sent in the chat will disappear but will be saved on the phone if auto-download is on. So this feature is imperfect compared to the same feature in Telegram.
How to enable WhatsApp Disappearing Messages
You can send messages that disappear on WhatsApp by turning disappearing messages on. Once enabled, new messages sent in the chat will disappear after seven days. The most recent selection controls all messages in the chat. Messages sent or received before disappearing messages is enabled won’t be affected.
WhatsApp Disappearing Messages on Android
Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your Android phone and visit the profile of the person you want to turn on the feature.
Step 2: Scroll down a bit and tap on Disappearing messages. In case you can’t find the feature in the app, then you need to check in Google Play Store if there is an update.
Step 3: Press Continue after reading the instructions. WhatsApp gives you a brief of how this feature works, and you can get more details by tapping on Learn more. Once you are aware of everything, you can select “On” to enable the Disappearing messages feature. You can follow the same process to disable it.
WhatsApp Disappearing Messages on iOS
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp chat on iOS and visit the profile of the person you want to turn on the feature.
Step 2: Tap the contact’s name.
Step 3: Tap Disappearing Messages.
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- If prompted, tap Continue.
Step 4: Select Disappearing Messages On.
Also read: 8 must-have apps for WhatsApp users
WhatsApp disappearing messages on KaiOS
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp chat.
Step 2: Press Options > View Contact > OK.
Step 3: Select Disappearing Messages and press on Edit.
Step 4: If prompted, press Next > OK. You then need to select On and then press on OK.
WhatsApp disappearing messages on Web & Desktop
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp chat.
Step 2: Click the contact’s name.
Step 3: Click Disappearing Messages.
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- If prompted, click Continue.
Step 4: Select On.
Final Thoughts
An important thing to note here is that once the Disappearing Messages feature is on, there, however, is no option of customizing the time frame after which the messages will be deleted. Well in the future we can expect this feature.
