WhatsApp: Send disappearing messages and photos with this easy hack

WhatsApp has decided to give a hand to users who regret sending a photo via the application. For this, the company has developed an option that allows users to automatically delete everything they send or receive.

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This handy little feature is great for those who are a tad clumsy. We have all done that one messaging mistake: Send a message or photo to the wrong person or group chat. Did you know that you can check who has seen your message in a group chat?

A new magic option on WhatsApp

Sometimes, in the heat of a discussion, or due to carelessness, we are led to send a message or a photo on a WhatsApp conversation that we immediately regret having sent. It can also happen that you want to send a photo of yourself to your partner, which he or she would not be able to keep, in order to spice up the conversation.

The problem is that it was impossible to automatically delete all the messages or photos received or sent before WhatsApp developed this new trick.

To prevent your conversations from being set in stone, WhatsApp has it covered: photos, videos or messages can 'self-destruct' automatically. It's an option you just have to activate in the application, and it works on Apple and Android.

How to enable automatic deletion of messages and photos

To activate this option for messages, simply follow these steps:

Choose the conversation in which you want to activate this function
Tap the name of the conversation at the top of your application
Scroll down until you come across the 'ephemeral messages' tab.
A message will be displayed with an explanation of the option, press 'Ok'.
You will then be asked to choose a duration after which the messages will be deleted from the conversation: 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days.
Choose one of these options, or don't activate the option!

To use this option with photos or videos, the steps are a little different:

Choose the conversation in which you want to activate this function
Make it as if you were going to send your photo or video by clicking in the bottom right corner of your screen
Select the photo or video as you normally would.
Press the circular icon with the number 1 in the middle, next to the photo or video upload button.
When this button is green, the photo or video will be in 'self-destruct' mode: the recipient will be able to see it but it will delete itself afterwards.

This option is very similar to what exists on Instagram when it comes to sending photos to each other in private messages, which may not be viewed more than once.

However, if this option on WhatsApp appeals to you, don't forget that it only concerns the application in question, the photos and videos obviously remain available in your phone, in the photos app.

This article was translated from Gentside FR.

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