26 WhatsApp Tricks and Tips

WhatsApp is an extremely popular mobile messaging app that is preferred by two billion monthly active users. Fans love the fact that WhatsApp allows them to chat, call, and video call for free, as well as exchange photos and videos. However, WhatsApp is so rich in features that you might feel overwhelmed at first.

That’s where these WhatsApp tips could come in handy. Our team of experts has performed an extensive series of tests to confirm that these tips actually work. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of WhatsApp, from enhancing security and privacy to aesthetic customization features.

1. Send disappearing messages

Disappearing messages automatically delete themselves after a certain period. This way, you won’t have to worry about your message being saved or forwarded without your knowledge.

WhatsApp gives you the option to make messages disappear after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. You can activate it for specific conversations with whomever you choose. Keep in mind, however, that the message preview will remain visible in the notification panel until you open the app, even if the time for the message period expires.

To activate disappearing messages, proceed as follows:

1. Open the WhatsApp chat on which you wish to use disappearing messages.
2. Click on the contact’s name.
3. Click on “Disappearing messages.”
4. Select your preferred duration.

Alternatively, if you wish to enable disappearing messages for all your contacts, you can proceed as follows:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Account, then go to Privacy.
3. Select Default message timer and then select your preferred duration.

Once enabled, WhatsApp will notify you directly in the chat that disappearing messages are turned on.

2. Call your friends via audio or video

One of WhatsApp’s most popular features is the free audio and video calls it offers its users. You can call your friends one-on-one or even make group calls with up to 32 participants on WhatsApp.

To do this, open the contact or group you wish to call. In the top right corner of the action bar, you will see a video call button and an audio call button. Choose whichever you prefer.

With a video call, as shown to the left of the image above, the camera will be active by default, and you won’t be able to turn it off. However, you have the option to reverse the camera if you wish. With audio calls, the standard WhatsApp background will be displayed.

You can turn the microphone on and off with either.

3. Customize your chat wallpaper

Looking to add a cuter aesthetic to your WhatsApp chats? You can change the wallpaper for all your chats or set specific wallpapers for chats with different people. You can also choose between dark or light mode wallpapers. In dark mode, you have the option to make the wallpaper darker, so it’s easier on the eyes.

To change the wallpaper in all chats, proceed as follows:

• Tap the three vertical dots indicating more options and click on “settings”.
• Then click on “chat” and then on “wallpaper”.
• Here you can adjust the wallpaper dimming level to your preferences.
• To completely change the wallpaper, click on “change”.
• You can choose from WhatsApp’s models of light, dark, or solid colors, or pick one from your photos. You can also opt for the default WhatsApp wallpaper.
• Click on “set wallpaper”.

If you want to change the wallpaper for a specific chat, here are the instructions:

• Open the chat whose wallpaper you want to customize.
• Tap the three vertical dots indicating more options and then click on “wallpaper”.
• Adjust the wallpaper dimming level to your preferences.
• Click on “change” to update the wallpaper image and choose from WhatsApp’s categories or your own image.
• Tap “set wallpaper”.

4. Modify your privacy settings

When you first install the app, WhatsApp’s default settings allow any user to see when you were last online, your information and profile picture, and whether you have read receipts enabled. Only your contacts will be able to see your status updates, but anyone can add you to groups.

To modify these privacy options, go to the settings page. This may vary depending on your device.

• On Android, tap the three vertical dots indicating more options. Then click on “settings”, then on “account”, then on “privacy”.
• On iPhone, you can directly tap on “Settings”, “ Account”, then “Privacy”.
• On desktop devices, you need to tap the menu symbol, “Settings”, then “Privacy”.

From this menu you can directly update:

• Your “last seen,” which shows the last time you were on the app
• Your profile photo
• Your “about” information.
• Your status
• Default timer for disappearing messages
• Who can add you to groups
• Your live location sharing

You can also manage your blocked contacts, enable fingerprint lock, and enable or disable read receipts.

Keep in mind that:

• You will not be able to view others’ “last seen” unless yours is enabled.
• You cannot view read receipts for messages you send if you or the other party has turned off read receipts.
• The ‘online’ and ‘typing’ status is always visible and cannot be changed.

5. Track your data and storage usage

Keeping track of how much data you’re consuming can be useful, especially if you use WhatsApp as part of a limited mobile data plan.

You might also find that your phone is filling up and you want to reduce the amount of storage WhatsApp is taking up. WhatsApp’s data report can show you at a glance how much data the app has consumed.

All you need to do is go to Settings and click on “Storage & data.” From here, you’ll have the option to:

• Manage storage
• View your network usage
• Turn the option “Use less data for calls” on and off.
• Modify media auto-download settings
• Choose media upload quality

If you click on the “Network usage” option, you can see a detailed breakdown of your data usage.

6. Delete your WhatsApp media

If you want to delete your WhatsApp media without deleting the entire app, you can go directly to your phone’s file manager or gallery.

From there, locate the WhatsApp images and WhatsApp video folder and delete any files you don’t need. For example, on a OnePlus phone, you’d see it listed under app collections in your gallery.

7. Turn off automatic media downloads

WhatsApp automatically downloads images and clips from your chats.

If you open your photo gallery and find it full of WhatsApp videos and images taking up a lot of space, manually deleting them can be time-consuming. A simple trick is to turn off automatic media downloads and keep WhatsApp media out of your gallery.

To do this, go to Settings and then Storage & data. In the Media auto-download section, you’ll be able to modify the settings for three modes:

• When using mobile data
• When connected on Wi-Fi
• When roaming

For all three, you can specify which content you want to download automatically. You can choose to enable it for photos, audio files, videos, and documents.

8. Bookmark messages with the star icon

If you’re browsing through different conversations, you might easily get lost in the sea of text. Luckily, WhatsApp has a useful feature to mark messages you want to refer back to or revisit later.

Here are the steps to do so:

• Go to the conversation and find the specific message you want to bookmark.
• Tap and hold the specific message box, then select any other messages you wish to favorite by simply tapping on them.
• From the action bar at the top, select the star icon.

You can view your starred messages with a contact at any time by clicking on their name and selecting the starred messages. From here, you can browse through the entire archive or use the search bar function to find the message you want. If you wish to unstar a message, hover over the message, click on the menu bar, and then on Unstar message.

9. Delete messages for everyone (or just yourself)

Whether you’re trying to get over some painful memories or simply clean up a long string of lengthy chats, you can delete all messages or media that you’ve exchanged with someone in your contact list.

There are two approaches to this. You can delete messages for everyone involved in the chat, or delete them only for yourself. For the former, you need to delete the message within an hour of sending it. To do this:

• Select the message you wish to delete.
• Click on “options”, then on “delete” and “delete for everyone”.

You can delete the records of your chats on your phone at any time. This will not affect the recipient’s chat history. To do this, open the chat in question and:

• Select the message you wish to delete.
• Click on “options”, then on “delete” and “delete for me”.

If you don’t want to manually select and delete an entire conversation, you can select the contact’s name directly from your recent chats list, then click on the trash can icon on the action bar.

10. Search chat history

If you’re looking for a specific message from a chat but can’t remember which one and didn’t star it, WhatsApp’s search function should be your go-to tool. As long as you can remember a few words from your conversation, it should be relatively easy to find.

You can also find media and documents with this function.

To search chat history using a keyword, proceed as follows:

• Open WhatsApp.
• On the Chats screen, click on the Search icon.
• Enter the keywords you are looking for.
• Tap on the relevant results displayed.

If you want to search for media linked to the keyword, you just need to click on the relevant filter for it. This will simplify the results.

11. Search a particular chat

There’s a quicker way to find a message if you already know which chat to search within.

To do this, follow these instructions:

• Open the specific chat.
• Tap the three vertical dots indicating more options and click on “search”.
• Enter the relevant keyword.
• Use the navigation arrows to go through each result individually.

12. Send messages via Google Assistant

If you have Google Assistant set up on your Android phone, you can use it to send messages directly on WhatsApp. You don’t even need to open the app yourself – the voice assistant can do it all for you.

To enable Google Assistant for WhatsApp, proceed as follows:

• Open Google Assistant or say, “Hey Google.”
• Then say, “Send a message to [contact name].”
• Choose WhatsApp from the apps displayed.
• Tell it the message you want to send.
• Google Assistant will repeat the message back to you. If it’s accurate, say “yes,” and the message will be sent.

13. Back up WhatsApp to a cloud storage service

Having backup copies of all your messages is always a good idea, especially if you have important conversations or value the emotional weight of online chats. WhatsApp can back up both chats and media to your preferred cloud storage device.

iOS users can back up chats to iCloud. Android users have the option to back up to Google Drive. The steps are practically the same on both platforms.

• Go to Settings.
• Go to Chat, then Chat backup.
• Make sure your Google Drive or iCloud account is linked.
• Enable automatic backup and choose the backup frequency.

Alternatively, you can perform manual backups at any time on either platform by going to Settings, then Chat menu, Chat Backup, and finally Back up now.

14. Turn off read receipts

Read receipts inform you and the other recipient when a message has been seen. A gray checkmark indicates that the message has been sent but not received on the recipient’s device. Two gray checkmarks indicate that it has been delivered but not yet seen. Two blue checkmarks indicate that the message has been read.

If you want more privacy, you can turn off read receipts so that your contacts don’t know when you read their messages. If you do this, messages you read will also appear as unread and remain as two gray checkmarks (but note this works both ways). However, keep in mind that this only works with individual chats and does not apply to group chats or playback receipts for voice messages.

Here’s how to turn off read receipts:

• Go to Settings.
• Click on “Account”, then on “Privacy”.
• From here, turn read receipts on or off.

15. See who has read your group messages

If you are part of a large and active group on WhatsApp, you might want to see who has read your message and who has not seen it yet. Here’s how to check read receipts on a group chat for messages you send:

• Open the relevant group chat.
• Select and hold the sent message you want to check.
• Tap the “info” button and check if your message status has been delivered, read/seen, or played.

Note that you can only see this for those recipients who have read receipts enabled.

16. Reply to a single person in a group chat

Sometimes in large WhatsApp group chats, you want to respond to just one person without disrupting the flow of the conversation. This is a very simple process.

All you need to do is tap and hold the message you want to reply to, then click on “Reply.” Type your response and press “Send.” You can also do this by swiping right on the message.

You also have the option to reply to an individual privately, so go to their personal chat rather than the group chat. To reply privately:

• Select and hold the message you want to reply to privately.
• Tap “More” and then “Reply privately”.
• Type your message and press “Send” in the private chat with the person.

17. Enable two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is an additional security measure you can enable on WhatsApp. When you enable 2FA, you are prompted to choose a six-digit PIN that you will need to enter periodically to log into your account. This protects your WhatsApp communication even if your phone is stolen.

To enable 2FA on WhatsApp, follow these steps:

• Open Settings.
• Click on “Account”, then on “Two-step verification”.
• Click on “Enable”.
• Enter your chosen six-digit PIN.
• Provide your email address for added security (optional).
• Click on “Next”.
• Verify that the e-mail ID is correct and click on “Save”.

18. Sync WhatsApp with your computer

Texting on your phone can be tedious, especially if you have a lengthy conversation. In these cases, switching to your laptop or computer can be more convenient. You can connect to WhatsApp via WhatsApp Web, the browser-based application, or WhatsApp for Desktop.

Messages sync across all devices. WhatsApp sends an encrypted copy of all your messages to each device you have it set up on. You can connect to WhatsApp Web here. If you prefer the desktop app instead, you can install WhatsApp for Desktop from here.

The steps to connect both are quite similar.

• Open WhatsApp on your phone.
• Click on “Menu”, then click on “Linked devices”.
• Scan the QR code on your screen using your phone’s camera.

19. Turn off WhatsApp notifications

Sometimes, the constant pinging of your phone or the vibrations of notifications can become annoying. The best thing to do then is to turn off notifications for a while. You can do this for a group message or in individual chats.

The easiest way to mute WhatsApp is to access the Chat bar, then follow these steps:

• Select the individual or group chat you wish to mute.
• Click on “Options”, then on “Mute”.
• From the options, select the time period for which you wish to mute notifications, then press “OK”.

20. Add a chat to your home screen

If you have certain contacts you talk to frequently, you can add their chat to your home screen instead of spending time scrolling through the list. WhatsApp allows you to pin up to three chats (including groups), so choose wisely!

To pin a chat on iPhone, swipe right on the chat, then click on the pin icon. On Android, select and hold the chat you want to pin, then tap the Pin Chat icon on the action bar.

21. Send voice messages

Sending voice messages can sometimes be more convenient than texting. You can send voice messages to contacts at any time. The process is simple.

• Open the chat in which you want to send a voice message.
• Tap and hold the microphone button at the bottom right of the screen to start speaking.
• When you are finished, stop holding the button and remove your finger. The voice message will be sent.
• If sending a longer voice message, tap and hold the microphone button, then swipe up to lock for hands-free recording.

A voice message sent with a gray microphone indicates it has not been heard. Like read receipts, if it turns blue, it indicates it has been played.

22. Send your location to a contact

Planning to meet up with a friend? Or perhaps they’re picking you up? Sending your location (static or live) with WhatsApp can be useful for many reasons.

• The first step is to ensure you have enabled location permissions in your phone’s settings for WhatsApp.
• Open the individual or group chat you want to send the location to.
• Click on “Attach”, then on “Location”.
• If you wish to send a static location, click on “Send your current location”.
• If you wish to send a live location, click on “Share live location” and choose how long you want to share it for.
• Click on “Send” afterward.

You can stop sharing your live location at any time by accessing the relevant chat and clicking on “Stop sharing”, then on “Stop”.

23. Send text in bold, italics, or strikethrough

You can customize how you send text through extra formatting options, namely bold, italics, monospace, and strikethrough.

• To italicize your messages, put an underscore on either side of the text _like this_.
• To bold your message, put an asterisk on either side of the text *like this*.
• To monospace your message, place three backticks on either side of the text ‘`like this`’.
• To strikethrough your message, place a tilde on either side of the text ~like this~.

If you don’t want to manually format the text, you can use shortcuts. Tap and hold the text you wish to customize, then choose “Bold”, “Italic” or “More” from the additional menu. You can then select “Strikethrough” or “Monospace”.

24. Block a WhatsApp user

You might want to block a specific individual for your peace of mind or security. Follow these steps to block someone:

• Open WhatsApp and click on the three vertical dots for more options, then on “Settings”.
• Click on “Account”, then on “Privacy” and “Blocked contacts”.
• Tap the “Add” button.
• Search for the name of the contact you wish to block and block the contact.

You can also block unknown phone numbers by opening the chat with the unknown number and clicking on “Block” from the options listed directly in the chat space. You also have the option to Report them if they are suspicious/spam numbers. In this case, after clicking Report, the WhatsApp team receives a copy of the last five messages sent from this number.

The user will not be notified.

25. Read messages without opening WhatsApp

Use this small but ingenious trick to read new messages without unlocking your phone and entering WhatsApp. Simply enable notifications by following these steps:

• Open WhatsApp and click on “Settings”, then on “Notifications”.
• Enable “Use high priority notifications”.

When you receive messages, they will appear as message previews without you even needing to open the app.

Unless you use the message to open WhatsApp, the recipient will not know you’ve read it, even if you have read receipts enabled.

Another temporary hack you can use is to view the message via airplane mode. When you receive a message and see the preview via the notification panel, you might not be able to see all of it if it’s a longer message or a series of messages. In this case, you can enable airplane mode, then fully open the message on WhatsApp.

However, in this case, the moment you turn on data or reconnect to WiFi, the read receipts will appear as blue checkmarks. Airplane mode will only delay the blue checkmarks that will eventually appear.

26. Customize your own stickers

Stickers are a fun feature to liven up chats with more visuals. You can download available packs or create your own for WhatsApp using third-party apps or developer software. You can check out WhatsApp’s apps and sample code here to develop your own stickers – just make sure they meet their requirements.

The easiest way to access stickers is by downloading ready-made packs.

• Open the chat in which you want to send a sticker.
• Click on “Stickers” and “Add”. Find the pack you want to download and click on “Download”. Confirm the prompt that appears.
• Scroll through the Stickers tab to find the downloaded pack, and click on the sticker you want to send.

You can also favorite stickers you use most frequently, or find them among Recents to save time.

There are also numerous third-party apps you can install from the Play Store or app store that allow you to create your own stickers – for example, of your face or by converting your existing images into stickers.

You can also find ones you want by searching for them specifically. For example, if you’re a fan of Pepe the Frog memes and want to add some froggy humor to your chats, you can search for Pepe sticker packs.

Final Thoughts

WhatsApp is one of the world’s favorite messaging apps. The app’s popularity is easy to understand: it’s convenient, secure, and free. But many people don’t know that it can do much more than just text messaging. We hope this article helps you explore other dimensions of WhatsApp.

How often do you use WhatsApp? What are your favorite WhatsApp tricks from this list, or are there any you feel we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments.

 

Source cloudwards

Pubblicato in WhatsApp