WhatsApp 'Disappearing Messages' feature now in India: How to enable on Android, iOS

Weeks after the official launch of the long-awaited "disappearing messages" feature with a period of seven days before the message is automatically deleted, WhatsApp recently rolled out the update for its Indian users.

The Facebook-owned messaging app previously announced that the feature is now official and will roll out to more than 2 billion users "this month."

The "hidden messages" feature is available for individual and group chats. However, in group chats, only group admins will be able to allow messages to disappear in group chats.

The feature is available on all WhatsApp-enabled devices, including KaiOS Android, iOS, and Linux devices, along with WhatsApp for web and desktop.

Once you have activated the Disappearing Messages feature, the selection controls all messages in the chat afterwards. "This setting will not affect the messages you previously sent or received in the chat," WhatsApp said on its support page.

messages will also delete photos and videos after seven days, and although the messages disappeared for both ends, it is still possible to take screenshots or simply copy the messages before deleting them automatically. Or you can also save images or other content with automatic download. You can disable automatic download in WhatsApp Settings> Data and Storage Usage.

If the user does not open WhatsApp within 7 days, the message will disappear. However, the message preview may still show in notifications until WhatsApp is opened.

Also, if a hidden message is forwarded to a conversation and the messages disappear, the message will not disappear in the forwarded chat. Also, if the user creates a backup before the message disappears, the missing message is included in the backup. Hidden messages will be removed when the user restores from backup.

How to enable hide WhatsApp messages feature on Android and iOS smartphones:

Open a WhatsApp chat on Android or iOS devices.

Touch the contact's name.

In addition to contact information, you will also find an option to click on hidden messages, just above the option to "encrypt" messages.

Once clicked, select.

The disappearing message option will be activated for the particular chat.

How to disable the Disappearing Messages feature on Android and iOS devices:

Once deactivated, the messages sent in the chat will not disappear again.

Open a WhatsApp chat.

Touch the contact's name.

Tap on hidden messages.

Select Disabled.

How to use WhatsApp messages that are disappearing in KaiOS:

Open a WhatsApp chat.

Click Options> Show Contact> OK.

Select the hidden messages and tap Edit.                                                        

If prompted, touch Next> OK. Then you need to select Run and then press OK.