WhatsApp, with its 2 billion active users, has become an integral part of daily life. It offers free chatting, video calls, and photo sharing. Its rich feature set has made it a global staple, enhancing communication and convenience.
While many are familiar with WhatsApp’s core functionalities, numerous tricks can significantly enhance your experience. This article provides valuable tips and tricks for maximizing WhatsApp’s potential, allowing you to make the most of its features effectively and efficiently. Continue reading to discover how to leverage these insights for a more streamlined experience.
10 Best WhatsApp Tricks & Tips 2024
Now that you’ve joined WhatsApp, please take advantage of its exceptional features. Below are some tips to enhance your experience, focusing on boosting security, privacy, and customization. Make the most of these recommendations to optimize your use of the app.
Read More: How to Can Effortlessly Make WhatsApp More Secure and Private
Sending Disappearing Messages
Disappearing messages automatically delete after a set period, ensuring that your messages won’t be saved or forwarded without your knowledge. WhatsApp offers options for messages to disappear after 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days. You can enable this feature for specific conversations with selected contacts.
Note that even after the set period, message previews will remain visible in the notification panel until you open the app. To activate disappearing messages, tap on the contact’s name in WhatsApp, select “Disappearing Messages,” and choose your preferred duration. You will receive a notification confirming that the feature is enabled.
Customization of Chat Wallpaper
To enhance the aesthetic of your WhatsApp chats, you can customize the wallpaper for all chats or individual conversations. Choose between light or dark mode wallpapers by navigating to Settings, selecting Chats, and then choosing Wallpaper.
To change the wallpaper for all chats, click on “Change,” make your selection, and then tap “Set Wallpaper.” For individual chat wallpapers, use the three vertical dots within the chat room to select and apply your preferred background.
Using Google Assistant for sending messages
If you have Google Assistant set up on your Android phone, you can use it to send messages without opening WhatsApp. Say, “Hey, Google,” followed by “Send a message to [contact name].” When prompted, choose WhatsApp from the list of apps, then dictate your message. Google Assistant will repeat the message for your confirmation before sending it.
Backing WhatsApp on Cloud Storage
You can back up both media files and chat history to your preferred cloud storage. Android users can use Google Drive, while iOS users can back up to iCloud. To set this up, go to Settings, select Chats, and then choose Chat Backup. Ensure your account is linked to WhatsApp for automatic backups, or manually initiate a backup as needed.
Keeping track of who read your message in the group messages
In a large active group, you may want to track who has read your message. To do this, open the group chat, long-press the sent message, and select “Info.” This will show you whether the message has been delivered, seen, or played.
Using strike-through, bold, or italics in messages
You can emphasize your words in WhatsApp by using formatting options like bold, italics, or strikethrough. To bold a word, place an asterisk (*) on both sides of the word. For italics, use an underscore (_) on both sides. To apply strikethrough, place a tilde (~) on both sides of the word.
Replying privately to group chat messages
If you need to discuss something privately within a group, you can quickly start a one-on-one chat. In the group chat, press and hold the message you want to respond to, then tap “More” and select “Reply Privately.” This will open a private chat option in the text box. On Android phones, press and hold the message, tap the three dots in the upper right corner, and select “Reply Privately.”
Customization of stickers
WhatsApp users can download sticker packs from the available options or create custom stickers using third-party apps or developer software, provided they meet the requirements.
To add a sticker to your favorites, select it and find it under “Recent” for quicker access.
Sending location to the contact
To share your location on WhatsApp, open the chat, tap the attachment icon, and select “Location.” Choose “Send your current location” for a static location or “Share live location” to provide real-time updates. If sharing live, specify the duration for which you want to share your location, then tap “Send.”
Pinning Chats to the Homepage
If you frequently chat with specific contacts, you can pin their chats to the homepage for easy access. You can pin up to three chats.
On iPhone, swipe right on the chat and tap the pin icon. On Android, press and hold the chat you want to pin, then tap the pin chat icon in the action bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I customize my WhatsApp chat background?
Go to Settings > Chats > Wallpaper. Choose a new wallpaper from your gallery or select from available options. You can set different wallpapers for all chats or specific chats.
Can I use WhatsApp without opening the app to send messages?
Yes, if you have Google Assistant set up on your Android phone, you can say, “Hey Google, send a message to [contact name]” and dictate your message without opening the app.
How do I back up my WhatsApp chats and media?
For Android: Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup. Link your Google Drive account and select the backup frequency.
For iOS: Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Link your iCloud account and choose your backup preferences.
How can I see who has read my messages in a group chat?
Open the group chat, press and hold the message, and tap “Info.” You’ll see whether the message has been delivered, seen, or played.
How do I pin important chats for quick access?
On iPhone: Swipe right on the chat and tap the pin icon.
On Android: Press and hold the chat, then tap the pin icon in the action bar. You can pin up to three chats.
What’s the best way to create and use custom stickers?
You can download sticker packs or create your own using third-party apps or developer tools. Ensure they meet WhatsApp’s requirements. To add stickers to your favorites, tap the sticker and find it in “Recent” for quick access.
How do I send my location through WhatsApp?
Open the chat, tap the attachment icon, and select “Location.” Choose between “Send your current location” for a static location or “Share live location” for real-time updates. Specify the duration for sharing the live location before tapping “Send.”
How can I reply privately to a message in a group chat?
On iPhone: Press and hold the message, tap “More,” and select “Reply Privately.”
On Android: Press and hold the message, tap the three dots in the upper right corner, and choose “Reply Privately.”
Conclusion
Mastering the latest WhatsApp tricks and tips can significantly enhance your messaging experience in 2024. From improving privacy with disappearing messages and two-step verification to customizing your chat background and creating personalized stickers, these features allow for a more tailored and secure communication environment.
Efficiently managing group chats with private replies and tracking message read status adds convenience, while easy access to frequently used chats and location sharing makes communication smoother and more effective. By leveraging these tips, you can optimize your WhatsApp usage and make the most out of this versatile messaging platform.
