Whatsapp offers quite a number of unique features which makes it one of the best top-rated messaging applications available. The facebook-owned messaging application has grown its active users on the platform to about 2 billion monthly active users worldwide according to Statista.
Apart from the basic messaging, voice, and video call, there are some great features and tricks you are still yet to explore that WhatsApp offers.
The truth is you have been using WhatsApp on your phone for quite a while now but chances are you may not have really dug down into the app to find out these extra features, tricks, and hacks of WhatsApp messaging hacks.
This post will show you some WhatsApp features you may not have known about before. Let’s get started.
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Turn on Disappearing Message
This feature is one of the recent updates made to WhatsApp. This feature allows you to turn disappearing messages for specific chats/contact. This means when it is enabled all of your chat messages will disappear from a chat after seven days.
If you are a secretive person or you are conscious that your chats are not safe, you can enable the disappearing message feature. This feature is also somehow similar to self-destruct message of Telegram. Read Differences between Whatsapp and Telegram- which one is better
To enable disappearing messages, go to the specific chat you want the message to disappear, click the person’s name at the top of the chat, scroll down to the disappearing messages” option and click on it to toggle it on.
Stop unnecessary Images and Videos appearing in your Gallery
Sharing photos and videos are a common thing on WhatsApp. But it can be annoying when unnecessary pictures are sent from groups and downloaded into your gallery.
They take up storage space on your phone. Whatsapp allows you to turn off media showing in your gallery. Images and videos will be downloaded, but you can only preview them on WhatsApp chat and will not be downloaded in your gallery.
Go to settings > chats > turn off media gallery appearance
Make Group Call
One of the best WhatsApp features is the ability to make group call to up to 8 persons. There was a time when you could only add 4 individuals to a group voice or video call conferencing session, but it has recently been extended to 8.
You may now make a video call or voice call to up to 8 persons at the same time. This new feature is extremely useful to the general public.
Read also: How to Set Up Your Smartphone to Stay Productive
Send your current location to a contact
Let’s say you are trying to give directions to your friends where they can meet you. You can share your current location and get them to make their way to your place using maps.
You can also send them a pin of where you are heading to or share your ‘live location’ so that they can track your movement.
This feature can broadcast your location for up to 15 minutes, 1hour, or 8 hours depending on your choice.
You can stop live location tracking whenever you want by clicking the ‘stop sharing’ option in the chat.
On IOS, click + icon to the left of the chatbox, and choose a location. This will bring up all of your options. Approve WhatsApp to know your location at all times.
On Android, click on the chat menu and choose a location, share location then approve WhatsApp to turn on location permissions.
Use Whatsapp on the Web
Whatsapp is known to be a mobile application, but one cool feature is the ability to use it on web browsers with your laptop or desktop.
Sitting down at your computer and using a full keyboard and mouse is a much better experience when you are in a chat conversation with old-time friends.
You can access the WhatsApp web version using this link https://web.whatsapp.com. A QR Code will be displayed, then click the menu on your WhatsApp navbar, click on WhatsApp web and scan the QR code on your PC.
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Disable auto download and find out how much data you’re using
If you don’t have enough data, and you don’t want WhatsApp to consume your data, you can customize when media is allowed to download according to your preference, as well as ensuring calls use as little data as possible.
If you are concerned about your data usage, you can find out exactly how much you are using.
You will get a breakdown of the total number of sent and received messages, as well as data sent and received.
To disable auto-download, Goto settings > storage and data > media auto-download > switch to wifi only option to save your data.
To find out how much data you are using, go to settings > storage and data > Network usage
Require Face ID or Touch ID to unlock Whatsapp
If you want double security on your Whatsapp chats, these feature is common for IOS users to set their WhatsApp account to require face ID or Touch ID authentication when opening WhatsApp.
You can set the duration of time you want the screen lock feature to start although you can still reply to messages from notifications and answer calls even if Whatsapp is blocked.
Usign IOS, Go to settings > account > privacy > screen lock > toggle on require face ID/touch ID > select the time duration.
Export and View your chat report
If there is any need to save your chat locally on your phone, you can export all your chat conversations to your favorite person.
To export your chat conversation, tap on the menu > settings > chats > scroll down to chat history > click export chat then select which contact you want to export the chat, click whether to include media or without media, then export.
Bookmark Important messages
Have you ever read a very useful write-up on Whatsapp that you need to get back to again? It is possible to bookmark these messages by starring them so you could find them easily in the starred messages section later.
Starred messages are easy to locate. To star/bookmark a WhatsApp message, go to the specific message > select by long pressing on the message > on the menu bar > tap on star.
Pin a chat at the Top
If you have a favorite group or favorite person you chat with, you can keep a chat thread visible at the top of your chats screen. The chat will always appear at the top and it will add a pin icon to the chat so you know it’s been pinned.
To pin a chat, simply swipe on the chat from left to right and tap on the pin icon. You can unpin this if you no longer want a pin.
Payment through whatsapp
Whatsapp Pay is another essential feature that is worth mentioning. Whatsapp allows you to send and receive money to your friends and family members.
Although this feature is only available in certain countries like India, Brazil, Pakistan, and the likes. Launched in February 2018 in India. Want to read more about WhatsApp Pay? Click here
I love the Export and view chat report part. Thanks for this TeeTaryo!
Thanks man. I’m glad this is helpful
This is very informative. Thanks
Cool stuff here bro
Thanks for this notice
Thank you man