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You can now make all your WhatsApp messages self-delete by default – here’s how

WhatsApp continues to add more features to the messaging platform.
whastapp logo on encrypted background
Image: KnowTechie

WhatsApp has let you set your messages to self-destruct for a year now. It’s a cool feature, letting you set things to auto-delete after seven days.

Now it’s going to be even better, with new validity periods and the option to set all your messages to self-destruct by default. Additionally, the company now lets you undelete chat messages too.

The new validity periods are 24 hours, seven days, and 90 days. That should please even the most hardened privacy advocate, and don’t forget you can also set some types of messages to view once only.

Here’s how to set up disappearing messages by default in WhatsApp

whatsapp self destruct default setting
Image: Meta / WhatsApp

The steps to enable the new feature are the same on both Android and iOS. You can follow along below.

  1. Open WhatsApp

  2. Tap on Settings

  3. Tap on Accountwhatsapp settings account option

  4. Tap on Privacywhatsapp settings privacy menu

  5. Tap on Default message timer

  6. Choose how long you want messages to be available before they auto-delete. You can choose 24 hours, 7 days, 90 days, or Off.

  7. From an existing conversation

    Open any conversation and tap on the Contact name

  8. Tap on Disappearing messageswhatsapp disappearing message option inside a conversation

  9. Select 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days

  10. To disable disappearing messages, go back to the same option and tap on Off

Disappearing messages will only work if you’re in one-on-one chats. If you’re in a group message, only the group’s creator can change the time messages will be viewable.

READ MORE: WhatsApp Communities lets you build your own social network

WhatsApp will also let the other person you’re talking to know that you’ve defaulted to disappearing messages.

The feature is rolling out on both iOS and Android, starting today.

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