Cleaning digital clutters is essential to keep your device running smoothly. Hundreds of chats on WhatsApp can go unnoticed and before you know it, your phone is lagging.
Luckily, WhatsApp offers a feature where messages can automatically disappear after a certain period that you’ve set.
Learn more about how to turn on disappearing messages on WhatsApp below (works on an iPhone and Android device).
What is Disappearing Messages on Whatsapp?
Before we begin the tutorial, let’s define this feature first. Disappearing messages on WhatsApp allows users to automatically delete messages after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. This feature can be used on selected chats, all chats, and also group chats (if you’re the admin).
Say goodbye to spending a lot of time deleting your chats one by one. This awesome feature will do the work for you when turned on.
However, take notes of the following stipulations before turning on disappearing messages:
- Messages sent before disappearing messages are turned on will still be available, so you need to delete them manually.
- The disappeared messages will still be on your preview notification. But once you click on the preview and open WhatsApp, the message will no longer be available.
- If you reply to a disappearing message, that specific message will still be visible even after the disappearing timer has passed.
- If you create a backup before turning on the feature, the disappearing messages will be included. However, once you restore the backup, the disappearing messages will no longer be visible.
- Photos and videos are automatically saved to your device by default. So unless already turned it off, the photos and videos sent to you will be stored on your gallery even after the messages have already disappeared.
How to Turn on Disappearing Messages on WhatsApp
There are three types of chats on WhatsApp this feature can be applied on — individual chat, all chats, and group chats.
While you can activate it on all of your personal chats, the disappearing messages on group chats can only be turned on by the group admin(s). Keep on reading to find out more about the exact steps for each type of chat.
Turn on disappearing messages for selected chat only
If you want to apply this feature only on an individual chat, follow this step-by-step guide of turning on disappearing messages on WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp on your iOS or Android device
- Select the specific chat
- Click on the Contact’s Name at the top
- Tap on Disappearing Messages, located below Save to Camera Roll
- Pick one of three options — 24 Hours, 7 Days, or 24 Hours
Following the above steps will automatically delete the messages after the particular timer that you’ve chosen has passed. But keep in mind that the messages sent before the feature is activated will still be there.
Turn on disappearing messages for all chats
If you want to turn on disappearing messages for all of your chats, the steps are quite different. Follow this:
- Open WhatsApp
- Go to Settings at the bottom right
- Tap on Account → Privacy
- Tap on Default Message Timer
- Pick one of three options — 24 Hours, 7 Days, or 24 Hours
This is a quick way to get rid of all of your messages without having to remove them one by one. The downside of this is when you receive an important message, but forget to turn off the disappearing feature.
Turn on disappearing messages for group chats
Let’s say you’re an admin of a WhatsApp group. To turn on disappearing messages, simply do the following steps:
- Open WhatsApp
- Open your group chat
- Click on the Group’s Name at the top
- Tap on Disappearing Messages
- Pick one of three options — 24 Hours, 7 Days, or 24 Hours
Turning on the disappearing feature on a group chat is actually very similar to individual chat. The only difference is you can’t just activate it on any group that you want, only the ones where you’re the admin.
Wrap Up
Activating disappearing messages on WhatsApp can help you declutter WhatsApp’s junk, clean your storage, and enhance your device performance.
Plus, it helps you to hide private chats that you want to keep away from prying eyes in case someone accidentally stumbles upon your WhatsApp.
Have you tried this awesome feature?
If you have more questions regarding WhatsApp, just leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to answer!
