It’s been a year since the WhatsApp disappearing feature has been under testing. Soon this functionality will be rolled out to the masses as it has now been spotted on the FAQ page for the social media app. First spotted last year when it came in the news after suggested by beta testers. This feature will let you decide if and when you want the messages to be automatically deleted and for how long it stays in someone’s inbox.
The disappearing messages feature was first spotted by WABetaInfo on the company’s website FAQ page that tells how the functionality works. Although this feature is not available for the users but this update indicated that soon it will be rolled out to the user’s devices. According to WhatsApp, the disappearing messages feature will automatically vanish a message after seven days whether it is being sent to an individual or a group chat. Actually, this feature is quite different from the feature that was spotted in beta testers last year letting them opt for the time duration of a day, a month, a year, or the option to disable this option.
But as per the FAQ page, new messages sent in the individual or group chat will disappear after seven days. The most recent selection controls all messages in the chat. This setting won’t affect messages you previously sent or received in the chat. In an individual chat, either user can turn disappearing messages on or off. In a group chat, only group admins can turn disappearing messages on or off.
Moreover, the message will still vanish if the user doesn’t open WhatsApp in the seven-day period however the preview of the message might still be displayed in notifications until WhatsApp is opened. Also if the disappearing message is forwarded to other chats with this feature disable it won’t disappear in the forwarded chat. In addition to this if one has taken a backup before a message disappears, the disappearing message will be included in the backup but will disappear as soon as the chats are restored from the backup.
WhatsApp also notes that the disappearing messages feature should only be used with trusted individuals. For example, it’s possible for someone to:
- Forward or take a screenshot of a disappearing message and save it before it disappears.
- Copy and save content from the disappearing message before it disappears.
- Take a photo of a disappearing message with a camera or other device before it disappears.
Also, if you receive any photos or videos in WhatsApp will be automatically downloaded to your photos. In case the disappearing messages are turned on the media sent is the chat will go but if the auto-download is on the media will be saved on the phone.
How to enable or disable disappearing messages on your device?
- Open the WhatsApp chat.
- Tap the contact’s name.
- Tap Disappearing messages. Tap CONTINUE.
- Select ON.
- And to turn the feature off go on the contacts’ name
- Tap disappearing messages
- Continue and select off
Similarly, you can also disable this feature in group chats as well.
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