13 Things to Keep in Mind When Using WhatsApp Disappearing Messages

WhatsApp’s latest Disappearing messages feature has confused many users. Users are wondering what the Disappearing messages are, what happens when they use them, and whether the effects are reversible. You may have a few questions about this new feature, and it’s natural to avoid it until you’ve completely resolved it. To help you with this, we have compiled a list of important things about the Disappearing messages feature that you should know when using it on WhatsApp.

For starters, Disappearing messages makes your messages disappear automatically after 7 days, just like WhatsApp status. Rather than disappearing suddenly or within a few minutes/hours, these messages only disappear seven days after you turn on the feature. There are finer details that come with it. Let’s explore them in detail so you can start using the feature with confidence.

1. Supported Platforms and Chats

The disappearing messages feature is available on Android, iOS and the web version of WhatsApp. So, update your respective WhatsApp apps to the latest version if you want to use the feature. For some reason, the desktop version of WhatsApp (for macOS and Windows) doesn’t support it for now.

Also, the feature works for one-on-one chats and WhatsApp groups.

2. Time Period of Messages

You can always keep the disappearing messages feature enabled. This is entirely up to you. However, once activated, messages sent or received in chat will disappear seven days after they were sent or received. As soon as you turn it off, any messages sent or received after that will remain in conversations.

3. Disappearing Messages Are Off By Default

After updating WhatsApp to the latest version, you will notice that the Disappearing messages option is disabled by default. You have to enable it and manually disable it when you want to use it. There is no automation offered to enable or disable the feature.

4. Personal or Application Specific

The feature is personal. So you have to enable the feature separately for each chat and group. When you turn on Disappearing messages for a single chat, it is not automatically applied to all chats. There is no universal setting to enable Disappear messages for all conversations.

5. How to Turn On or Off Disappearing Messages on WhatsApp

Stage 1: Launch WhatsApp and open the chat or group you want to enable or disable Disappearing messages.

Note: Only the WhatsApp group admin can enable or disable the disappearing messages.

Step 2: Tap the name of the person or group at the top of the chat. Tap on the disappearing messages setting.

Stage 3: Select On to enable the feature and Off to disable it.

6. Who Can Control the Feature

Both participants in a one-on-one chat can enable or disable the Disappearing messages feature at any time. So if you enable it, the other person can turn it off.

When it comes to WhatsApp groups, only group admins can enable or disable the feature. WhatsApp notifies group participants when the disappearing messages feature is on or off. Other participants will not see the Disappearing messages option in their group settings.

7. What Happens to Old WhatsApp Messages?

Messages sent or received before Disappearing messages are enabled for a particular chat will not be affected. Similarly, nothing will happen to the messages you send or receive after the feature is disabled. So you don’t have to worry about your old messages.

8. Disappearing Messages Shows Screenshot Notification

Snapchat and Vanish mode on Facebook Messenger and Instagram notify participants when someone takes a screenshot. However, WhatsApp will not notify if a participant takes a screenshot when disappearing messages is enabled. That’s why you should only use the feature with people you can trust.

Fly: Does WhatsApp notify you when you take screenshots of the status? Find out the answer.

9. How Do You Know When Disappearing Messages In A Chat Are Active?

If you missed the warning message and you’re not sure if the feature is turned on, there is another way. Look for the clock next to the person’s profile picture in chat. If the clock icon is visible, Disappear messages are turned on. When there is no clock icon, Disappearing messages are disabled.

10. Quoted or Forwarded Messages Will Stay Alive

There are some loopholes in the disappearing messages feature that you should be aware of. If you quote a message when the disappearing messages feature is enabled, the quoted message will still appear after seven days. Although the original message will be deleted, the quoted text may remain. The same rule applies to the Delete for Everyone feature in WhatsApp.

Similarly, if a text from the Disappeared messages chat is forwarded to another person, the message will still be available after 7 days. This means that the original message from the conversation with the disappearing messages will be removed. However, the same message forwarded to a chat with the feature disabled will still exist.

11. Preview Message Can Be Seen in Notification

Let’s say you are away from your phone or do not check WhatsApp for a few days or a week. Meanwhile, your friend activates the Disappearing Messages feature in a chat with you and sends a bunch of messages. Now, if you check those messages on WhatsApp after a week, you won’t see those messages. However, if you haven’t deleted the WhatsApp message notifications from your phone, you will be able to preview the same messages in the notification panel. So you have to be really careful while using the feature.

12. Backup of Lost Messages

All messages, even Disappeared, become part of the WhatsApp backup, whether retrieved manually or scheduled. However, when you restore that backup after a week or more, Lost messages will not be restored. Yes, even if you make a backup of Disappeared Messages, it will be deleted from a backup you restore after 7 days.

13. What Happens to the Media in Disappearing Messages?

Share photos, videos, GIFs, documents, etc. in WhatsApp chats. you can send Typically, when you receive media on WhatsApp, it is automatically downloaded to your phone’s storage unless auto-download is turned off.

Therefore, when Disappearing messages are opened, any media sent or received during this time will disappear from the WhatsApp chat. However, if auto download is turned on or you have manually downloaded the media to your phone’s memory, it will remain on your phone. You can access it from gallery or file manager apps. You can disable the automatic download of media in WhatsApp by going to WhatsApp Settings > Storage & data.

Under Media auto download section, disable various media formats. On iPhone, go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats. Disable the toggle next to Save to camera roll.

Pro Tip: Learn how to delete WhatsApp photos from chats and phone storage on Android and iPhone.

Redeem Disappearing Messages with Trusted Contacts

Now that you know everything you need to know about disappearing messages, you should only use them with people you trust. You can always use it for fun with anyone, but remember that anyone can take a screenshot of the chat or copy and save the messages in another app. Even the lost message can be forwarded. While it’s safe to use, don’t trust it blindly.

Next: Thinking of uninstalling WhatsApp? Click on the next link to find out what happens to your contacts and chats when you remove WhatsApp from your phone.