Skip to main content

WhatsApp launches disappearing messages. Here’s how to turn it on

How to send disappearing messages on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is adding a new option for users that, if enabled, will see chat messages disappear after seven days.

Facebook-owned WhatsApp said the feature will help make a conversation “feel lighter and more private.”

It said it set the time span at seven days because “it offers peace of mind that conversations aren’t permanent, while remaining practical so you don’t forget what you were chatting about,” adding, “The shopping list or store address you received a few days ago will be there while you need it, and then disappear after you don’t.”

In a person-to-person chat, either of the two participants can turn disappearing messages on or off. In a group chat, admins control the feature.

WhatsApp users can enable disappearing messages by going to a contact’s information page and tapping Disappearing Messages. If prompted, tap Continue, and then select On. The video at the top also shows you how to manage the feature.

It’s important to point out that there are cases where messages could still be viewed even if the feature is enabled. As per WhatsApp:

  • 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.
  • When you reply to a message, the initial message is quoted. If you reply to a disappearing message, the quoted text might remain in the chat after seven days.
  • 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.

Remember that a simple screenshot can preserve a message, too.

Finally, it’s also worth noting that photos and videos received to WhatsApp are saved to your photos by default. If you enable the disappearing message option, media sent in the chat will disappear after seven days but will be saved on the phone if auto-download is on. If you don’t want this to happen, you can turn off auto-download by going to a contact’s information page, tapping on Save to Camera Roll, and selecting Never.

The new WhatsApp feature lands for all users globally this month.

New to WhatsApp? Here’s how to use it.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
What is the Temu app? Here’s everything you need to know
Temu logo on an iPhone.

Following an increased marketing push starting in 2023, the Temu app has started to pick up some solid momentum that's driven many shoppers to want to check it out. As new marketplaces start to make their way into the mainstream, however, there's usually a healthy amount of skepticism toward them.

Although it's always a good impulse to be cautious about putting sensitive information into any app, here's everything you need to know about Temu — and if you truly need to be careful.
What is Temu?

Read more
Sunbird looks like the iMessage for Android app you’ve been waiting for
Sunbird Android app screenshots.

The idea of iMessage for Android sounds like a pipe dream, and for the most part, it is. Apps like AirMessage and Bleeper do make it possible to get iMessage on your Android phone today, but they often require complicated networking and Wi-Fi port forwarding, plus a Mac or iPhone to run in the background 24/7.

These apps technically work, but they're not things the average user can comfortably and confidently rely on. A new app — called Sunbird — now promises to change that.
iMessage on Android, now simplified

Read more
What is Mastodon? Here’s why everyone’s talking about this Twitter alternative
Series of four mobile screenshots showing Mastodon's sign-up process.

By now you've no doubt heard about Mastodon. It's a social media platform that's been bandied about as an alternative to Twitter, particularly among users who aren't comfortable with the direction Twitter is going in now that Elon Musk is at the helm.

In fact, since Musk first announced that he was planning on buying the popular microblogging platform, Mastodon has garnered quite a bit of attention and experienced significant growth. But though you've likely heard about Mastodon, you may not be familiar with how it works or haven't decided whether or not it would be a good fit for you if you ever choose to leave Twitter and need an alternative social media platform. Don't worry. We've got you covered. In this guide, we'll get you up to speed on everything you need to know about social media's buzziest new platform.
What is Mastodon?

Read more