WhatsApp has become the go-to phone messaging app for millions of users. To help you get more from the app, we've rounded up some useful features that make WhatsApp even better.
Explore the app's various menus and you'll uncover features that are slightly tucked away. For example, you can manage groups, delete messages you've sent by accident and even reclaim storage space on your device.
Our instructions below cover both iOS and Android devices, plus we've included guidance on how to ensure WhatsApp files don't take up too much space on your phone.
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Save space on your phone
WhatsApp retains photos and video contacts have shared, which can take up lots of space. To review and delete items, go to Chats and follow these steps:
- On Android – tap the Menu (three dots) button > Settings> Storage and data > Manage storage.
- On iOS – choose Settings> Storage and data > Manage storage.
Make sure you're certain you want to be rid of files before deleting them.
You can also stop WhatsApp from automatically saving media.On Android, tap the Menu button>Settings>Chats and switch off the Media visibility setting. On iPhone, tap Settings>Chats and disable the Save to Photos option.
If you've found a nice pub you want to give directions to, or are trying to wrangle a lost family member, you can share your location in a couple of taps.
To get started, open up the relevant chat. To the left of the screen where you'd usually type your message is aPlus icon on iPhone and a paperclip icon on Android – tap it, then select Location > Share live location. Choose how long you want your location to be shared.
You might need to tweak your phone settings to give WhatsApp permission to track location, so follow the on-screen instructions if this happens.
2. Use WhatsApp on your PC or Mac
Using WhatsApp Web, you can make calls through the app via your PC or Mac. To get started, head to web.whatsapp.com.
You'll be asked to scan a QR code to link your phone and computer. On your phone, launch WhatsApp. Tap the Menu (three dots) button on Android or the Settings option on iPhone, and select Linked devices >Link a device. Point your camera at the QR code and that's it – your chats and contacts will now be accessible through the web interface, where you can send messages as usual.
3. Check your security settings
WhatsApp has a reputation as one of the better messaging platforms for privacy, thanks to the end-to-end encryption on all your chats. But there are ways to improve your privacy even more.
By default, anyone can see when you were last using WhatsApp. Your profile picture and 'About' text are also publicly visible. You can address this in your Chats tab – tap Menu (Android only), then Settings> Privacy. Here you can customise your visibility to a level you're comfortable with.
To improve security, you can also add two-factor authentication. You'll be asked to create a Pin, which you'll have to punch in when setting up WhatsApp on a new phone. Once that's entered, you'll periodically be asked to enter it before you can use the app.
To add a Pin, go to the WhatsApp menu and tap Settings>Account >Two-step verification. You'll be asked to create a six-digit Pin.
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4. Record a voice note
Some people love these, some don't. If you haven't tried them yet, you might warm to them, as it's lovely to hear the voice of someone you care about.
Select the person you want to message to open up the chat, decide what you want to say, then hold down the microphone icon to the far right of the chat box and speak. Simply release the microphone icon to send the message.
If you've fluffed your delivery, slide your finger to the left to cancel and bin your message.
5. Back up your chats
To keep your WhatsApp chats safe, it's possible to set the app to back up automatically. Android users get the option of backing up to their Google Drive,while iOS users can back up to iCloud.
To visit backup options, tap Menu (three dots) > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup (Android)or Settings>Chats>Chat Backup (iOS). Here, you can select Frequencyand choose betweenDaily, Weekly or Monthly. You can also choose whether or not to back up videos – bear in mind that doing so will consume more of your storage space.
If you're moving to a new phone or temporarily uninstalling WhatsApp for any reason, consider running a manual last-minute backup of your messages by tapping Back Up Now.
Find out more about how to choose the best cloud storage
6. Unsend (or edit) messages
Find the message you want to delete, then tap and hold it. On an Android phone, this will select the message.iPhone users will see a menu at this point – tap Deleteand the message you tapped will be selected.
Next, tap the Delete (bin) icon and select Delete for everyone – this option will only be available for around an hour after you send the message. Your contact will see an entry stating 'This message was deleted'.
To edit a message, hold down on a message bubble and then select the Menu (three dots) button > Edit. Note that there is a 15-minute limit for editing messages and you can't edit photos, videos or other types of media. The people in your chat will see an 'edited' note on the message.
7. Create and manage a WhatsApp group
If you're using WhatsApp to keep in touch with friends and family, you can message multiple people at the same time using the group function.
From your phone, tap the Chats tab. Select New chat and then New group. Next, search for the contacts you want to include, then tap their names to add them.
Tap Nextand type a name for your group. You can add a picture by tapping the camera icon and either taking a photo or choosing one from your device. Select Createwhen you're finished.
It's easy to add more people to a group you've already set up. Open the group chat, tap the name of the group. Select Add Participants, then the contacts you want and choose Add.
By default, WhatsApp will compress photos that you send through the app – but there's a way to opt for a higher-resolution version if you want to preserve the quality of the original image.
When you have a conversation open, select the Plus icon in the bottom-left corner, then Photos. Select your photo and hit the HD icon at the top of the screen, then HD quality. Choose Doneto send.
After you've sent them, higher-res images will have a 'HD' logo in the bottom-left corner of the preview window.
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9. Mute annoying groups
It's nice when friends and family get in touch, but there are often times when your phone pinging away can be a bit offputting, particularly if it's a massive group that's talking about something you don't need to know about.
In the group chat,tap its name. Then, scroll down and choose Notifications> Mute notifications. You can choose between 8 hours, 1 week or always.
10. Annotate images
You can draw and add text to images – do this to create your own memes or to add scribbles to photos. Once you've picked a picture to add, look at the top of the screen. Here, you'll see options to crop and add stickers – ignore these.
Instead, click the T to add text or the pencil icon to add scribbles. You can change the colours, too. Once you've finished, clickDone. Then click the blue send button as usual.
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Even more WhatsApp shortcuts
- Mark important messages– To make a specific message easier to find in the future, long-press on it and press thestar icon. To see your marked message, press the name of the contact or group and choose Starred messages.
- Pin frequently-used chats to the top of your display – Long-press a message, select Settings and then Pin. A link to the pinned message will live permanently at the top of your chat window.
- Mention specific people in a group chat– In a shared conversation, type '@' and a list of people in the group will appear. Choose who you want to tag in your message to get their attention.
- Add a conversation shortcut to your home screen– If you're constantly revisiting the same WhatsApp chat, load it up as normal and choose Settings> More> Add shortcut.
- Delete old conversations to neaten up your Chats tab– To do this, long press on the conversation from the Chats tab, then press the bin icon. If you want to, select Also delete media received in this chat from the device gallery.
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