The feature is available for individual and group chats. However, in group chats, group admins will be able to enable disappearing messages in group chats.
The Disappearing Messages Now feature is official and will roll out to its more than 2 billion users this month.
The Facebook-owned company said the goal is “to make conversations on WhatsApp feel as close to people as possible, which means they shouldn’t have to stick around forever.”
“This is why we are excited to introduce the option to use disappearing messages on WhatsApp. When the ‘disappearing messages’ feature is activated, new messages sent to a chat will disappear after 7 days, which will help the conversation feel lighter and more private. “he said in a statement.
“We started with seven days because we think it offers the peace of mind that the conversations are not permanent, and at the same time, it remains practical so you don’t forget what you were talking about. The shopping list or store address you received a few days it’ll be there as long as you need it, and then it’s gone when you don’t need it, “he explained.
The Disappearing Messages feature will be available on all WhatsApp-enabled devices, including Android, iOS, and Linux-based KaiOS devices, along with WhatsApp web and desktop platforms, later this month.
Previously, WhatsApp, on its FAQ page, also had a detailed information on how the ‘Disappearing Messages’ will work once enabled.
How the new disappearing functions of WhatsApp work:
As mentioned, once Disappearing Messages feature is enabled, new messages sent in individual or group chat will disappear after seven days.
-The most recent selection controls all chat messages. “This setting will not affect the messages you previously sent or received in chat,” WhatsApp said on its support page.
-Disappearing messages will also delete photos and videos after seven days, and although the messages will disappear for both parties, it is still possible to take screenshots or simply copy the messages before they are automatically deleted. Or you can also save the photos or other content with automatic download turned on. You can disable automatic download in WhatsApp Settings> Data and Storage Usage.
-If a user does not open WhatsApp within seven days, the message will disappear. However, the message preview may still show in notifications until WhatsApp is opened.
-When you reply to a message, the initial message is quoted. If you reply to a message that disappears, the quoted text may remain in the chat after seven days.
-If a disappearing message is forwarded to a chat with the disappearing messages, the message will not disappear in the forwarded chat.
-If a user creates a backup before a message disappears, the message that disappears will be included in the backup. Disappearing messages will be deleted when a user restores from a backup.
How to enable or disable WhatsApp missing messages feature:
How to activate the Disappearing Messages feature:
Open the WhatsApp chat.
Touch the contact’s name.
Tap Disappearing messages.
If prompted, touch CONTINUE.
Select Enabled.
How to turn off the Disappearing Messages feature:
Once deactivated, messages sent in chat will no longer disappear.
Open the WhatsApp chat.
Touch the contact’s name.
Tap Disappearing messages.
If prompted, touch CONTINUE.
Select Disabled.
One important thing to note here is that once the Disappearing Messages feature is turned on, there is no option to customize the period of time after which the messages will be deleted.
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