WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, but many users only use its basic features. Besides sending messages and making calls, WhatsApp offers several useful tricks that can make chatting easier, improve privacy, and help you manage conversations.
Some features are hidden inside the settings, while others are available directly in your chats. Whether you use WhatsApp on Android or iPhone, these tips can help you get more out of the app.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 hidden WhatsApp tricks most users don’t know about and explain how to use them.
1. Send Messages Without Saving a Number
You don’t always need to save someone’s phone number before sending them a WhatsApp message.
One way to do this is by using WhatsApp’s official click-to-chat feature.
How to use it:
- Open your phone’s browser.
- Enter
https://wa.me/followed by the person’s full phone number, including the country code. - Open the link.
- Tap the option to continue to WhatsApp and start chatting.
For example, if the number is from India, include the country code 91 before the phone number. Don’t include the plus sign, spaces, or dashes in the URL.
This trick is useful when you need to message a customer, delivery person, or someone you don’t want to add to your contacts.
2. Read Messages Without Showing Blue Ticks
WhatsApp’s blue ticks tell the sender that you’ve read their message. However, you can turn off read receipts for personal chats.
How to disable read receipts:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Privacy.
- Turn off Read receipts.
After disabling this option, other people generally won’t see blue ticks when you read their individual messages. However, you won’t be able to see their read receipts either.
Keep in mind that read receipts work differently in group chats, where read information may still be available.
3. Lock Your Private Chats
If you want to keep certain conversations private, WhatsApp’s Chat Lock feature can help.
It moves selected chats into a separate locked folder that requires your device authentication, such as your fingerprint, Face ID, or passcode.
How to use Chat Lock:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Open the conversation you want to protect.
- Tap the contact’s or group’s name.
- Select Chat Lock.
- Follow the instructions to enable it.
Depending on your version, you may also have options to hide the locked-chat folder or use a secret code.
This feature is helpful when you share your phone with family members or other people.
4. Send Disappearing Messages
Want your messages to disappear automatically after some time? WhatsApp lets you enable disappearing messages for individual chats and supported group conversations.
How to enable it:
- Open a WhatsApp chat.
- Tap the contact’s name.
- Select Disappearing messages.
- Choose an available duration.
Depending on the options shown in your app, messages can disappear after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
Remember that disappearing messages aren’t a guarantee of privacy. Someone can still save information before it disappears, for example, by taking a screenshot or using another device.
5. Send Photos in Original Quality
WhatsApp may compress photos when you send them normally. If you want to preserve more of the original image quality, you can use its HD option or send the image as a document.
To send an HD photo:
- Open a chat.
- Tap the attachment or photo selection option.
- Choose the photo you want to send.
- Select HD, if available.
- Send the photo.
For the best chance of preserving the original file, send the image as a document instead. The exact steps can differ between Android and iPhone.
This trick is especially useful for photographers, students, and anyone sharing important images.
6. Pin Important Messages
Do you often lose important information in long conversations? You can pin selected messages so they’re easier to find.
How to pin a message:
- Open a WhatsApp conversation.
- Press and hold the message.
- Select the three-dot menu or message options.
- Tap Pin.
- Choose the available pin duration.
Pinned messages can help you keep addresses, meeting details, payment information, or important instructions visible in a conversation.
The available pin durations and controls may vary by app version and chat type.
7. Search for Messages by Date
Scrolling through months of messages can take a long time. WhatsApp’s calendar-based search feature can help you jump to messages from a particular date in supported chats.
How to use it:
- Open the conversation.
- Tap the contact’s or group’s name, or open the chat search option.
- Look for the calendar icon in the search interface.
- Select the date you want to check.
WhatsApp will take you to the relevant part of the conversation when messages are available for that date.
This is useful when you’re trying to find an old conversation, receipt, address, or shared document.
8. Use WhatsApp on Multiple Devices
You don’t have to use your phone every time you want to check WhatsApp messages. You can link additional devices, including supported computers and tablets.
How to link a device:
- Open WhatsApp on your main phone.
- Open Settings or the three-dot menu.
- Select Linked devices.
- Tap Link a device.
- Follow the instructions to connect the other device, usually by scanning a QR code.
Once linked, you can access your chats on supported devices without repeatedly logging in.
Only link devices you trust, and review your linked devices regularly to remove any you no longer use.
9. Mute WhatsApp Status Updates
If someone frequently posts status updates that you don’t want to see, you can mute their updates instead of blocking them.
How to mute a status:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Go to the Updates tab.
- Find the person’s status.
- Press and hold it or open its options.
- Select Mute.
Muted updates are moved to a separate section, depending on your app version.
This helps keep your status feed organized without notifying the other person that you’ve muted their updates.
10. Format Text in WhatsApp Messages
WhatsApp supports simple text formatting that can make your messages easier to read.
Here are some useful formatting options:
- Bold: Place an asterisk on both sides of the text, like
*Hello*. - Italic: Place an underscore on both sides, like
_Hello_. Strikethrough:Place a tilde on both sides, like~Hello~.- Monospace: Place three backticks on both sides, like
Hello.
For example, typing *Important update* makes the words appear in bold in supported versions of WhatsApp.
These formatting tricks are useful for emphasizing important details in personal and professional conversations.
11. Stop WhatsApp From Automatically Saving Media
WhatsApp can automatically download or save photos and videos, which may use storage space on your phone.
You can change these settings to control what gets downloaded or appears in your gallery.
On Android:
- Open WhatsApp Settings.
- Tap Chats.
- Turn off Media visibility if you don’t want newly downloaded media to appear in your phone’s gallery.
You can also open Storage and data to adjust automatic media downloads for mobile data, Wi-Fi, and roaming.
On iPhone:
Open WhatsApp Settings, select Chats, and adjust Save to Photos if you don’t want media automatically saved to your Photos library. Use Storage and Data to manage automatic downloads.
These settings help you save storage and keep unnecessary photos out of your gallery.
12. Send a Message to Yourself
WhatsApp allows you to chat with yourself. This is a simple way to save notes, links, documents, reminders, and other information.
How to use this trick:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Start a new chat.
- Find your own name or phone number in the contact list.
- Open the conversation and send a message.
You can also use your personal chat to share files between your phone and linked devices.
However, don’t treat this chat as your only backup. Important files should also be saved in a suitable backup or storage service.
13. Control Who Can Add You to Groups
Getting added to unwanted WhatsApp groups can be annoying. Fortunately, WhatsApp offers privacy controls for group invitations.
How to change the setting:
- Open WhatsApp Settings.
- Select Privacy.
- Tap Groups.
- Choose who can add you to groups.
Depending on the options available, you can limit group additions to your contacts or exclude selected contacts.
When someone cannot add you directly, they may still be able to send you a private group invitation.
This feature is useful for reducing spam and avoiding unwanted group conversations.
14. Share Your Live Location
If you’re meeting friends or family, WhatsApp lets you share your live location for a limited period.
Unlike a regular location pin, live location can update as you move.
How to share it:
- Open a chat with the person you want to share your location with.
- Tap the attachment icon on Android or the plus icon on iPhone.
- Select Location.
- Choose Share live location.
- Select the available duration and send it.
Only share your live location with people you trust. You can stop sharing before the selected duration ends.
If you only want to show someone a particular place, send your current location or another location pin instead.
15. Check Your WhatsApp Storage
Large videos, forwarded photos, and documents can take up considerable storage space over time.
WhatsApp includes a storage management tool that helps you find and remove large files.
How to check storage:
- Open WhatsApp Settings.
- Select Storage and data.
- Tap Manage storage.
- Review large files and media from individual chats.
- Select unwanted items and delete them.
Before deleting anything, check that you don’t need the files. Save important photos, documents, or videos somewhere safe first.
This is an easy way to free up space without deleting every conversation.
Final Words
These hidden WhatsApp tricks can help you improve privacy, organize conversations, save storage space, and use the app more efficiently.
Start with the features that are most useful to you, such as Chat Lock, disappearing messages, text formatting, and storage management. Some features and menu names may differ depending on whether you’re using Android or iPhone and which WhatsApp version is installed.
Keep WhatsApp updated to access the latest features, and review your privacy settings regularly to stay in control of your account.