Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has been slowly adding features to the platform. In fact, users are used to getting something new with every update. There is so much you can do with WhatsApp when it comes to chats and group chats.
You can reply to a specific message or mention someone in the group. You can also star the messages you want to find later. Starring messages is easy, and if you’re worried about finding them later, don’t worry. We protected you. This article will show you where to find them.
Finding Starred Messages
If you’re an avid WhatsApp user, your WhatsApp conversations can probably be swiped for a very long time. Even if you change your phone, WhatsApp backs up your data so your conversations stay recorded. That’s why starring a message you want to return to later is an incredibly useful tool in WhatsApp.
Let’s say someone forwarded an email address you needed and you starred it so you can come back and see it later. But there were hundreds of messages sent after that, so how do you find them? All you have to do is follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the chat you want.
- Tap your contact’s name at the top of the screen.
- Scroll down a little and tap on “Starred messages”.
- Tap the search feature (magnifying glass icon) to search for a specific starred message.
- Write what you are looking for. If you can’t remember all of them, start typing the words you remember; WhatsApp automatically scans the chat as you type.
If you have a lot of starred messages and aren’t sure how to find exactly what you’re looking for, your best bet is to scroll and search by date. However, you’re much more likely to find the starred message that way than skimming the entire conversation.
Starring and Removing Stars from WhatsApp Messages
Finding the starred message is obviously nothing complicated, but how do you star a WhatsApp message in the first place? And what are some of the main reasons people use this option? As mentioned, starring a message can act as a reminder. If you have no other way to pin a piece of information, this way you can effortlessly come back to it.
That’s on the practical side of things. However, people also star their messages on WhatsApp for emotional reasons. Sometimes you don’t want a particularly pleasant message to get lost in a sea of other, less-than-important messages. That’s why you star it to go back and reflect on it at a later date. You can also unstar the message if the information or content of the message is no longer valid. Here’s how to do it:
- Open WhatsApp and then open a conversation.
- Tap on the message you want to star and hold.
- When the message is highlighted, tap the star icon at the top of the screen.
Now when you search for starred messages, that message will also be there. When you’re ready to unstarred, the process is very similar:
- Open the conversation and tap the person’s name.
- Select “Starred messages” and find the message you want to remove from the list.
- Tap and hold until the message is highlighted. Then tap on the star icon, which is a line running through the middle.
Once this is done, the message will no longer appear in the starred messages section of your contact’s profile.
Finding Media, Links, and Documents
A big part of why WhatsApp is so widely used is that you can use it to send images, videos, gifs, links and all kinds of documents. All of these items can also be starred and then placed in the starred list. But you can also search for photos, videos, documents, and links you’ve shared with each recipient. And then star them or delete them. Here’s where to find them:
- Open WhatsApp and the specific conversation.
- Just below the recipient’s name and profile photo, you will see “Media, links and documents”.
- Tap that and then you will see three categories of exchange media, link and document.
- Switch between each to scroll and find what you’re looking for.
You can tap and hold a specific link, photo, or document to add or delete a star. You can also forward each item or copy and paste it elsewhere.
Calling All WhatsApp Stars
The feeling you get when you know the information you need is there but can’t find it can be quite frustrating. With just a few taps on the screen, starring messages can save you a lot of trouble.
It’s also human nature to forget good things quickly, and reminding yourself of an encouraging message from a friend can help if you give them a star when you get the message. It’s always easy to go back and reread.
Let us know what you think of WhatsApp starred messages in the comments section below.
