iPhone tips: four hidden features of WhatsApp (that you don’t know)

WhatsApp is one of the most popular chat programs and has a huge amount of possibilities. In these iPhone tips we show you four hidden functions of WhatsApp that you (probably) do not know yet.

iPhone Tips: Four Hidden Features of WhatsApp

Almost everyone has WhatsApp on their iPhone, because it has been one of the most popular chat programs for years. The app has many features, some of which are quite well hidden.

For example, did you know that you can write words in bold or italics in WhatsApp? Or that you can automatically make messages to certain contacts disappear? Learn how to do that (and more) in this week’s iPhone tips!

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1. Change the text format

In WhatsApp you can use stickers and moving pictures. Handy if you want to emphasize something. There is another way to do this. It is possible to change the formatting of the text. This can be done in four ways.

  • To text Fat or bold to make, type an asterisk to the left and right of the word † For example, if you type *like*, will appear in the messagenice
  • † Do you want a worditalics † Then you type a dash (_) before and after the word. This is how _birthday_ is adjusted inbirthday
  • †
  • You can also cross out text. You do this by typing a tilde (~) to the left and right of the word.
Finally, there is another strange option, namely monospace.  This gives more space between the letters.  You do this by typing a grave accent (`) three times before and after the word.  Example: “`great!“`.

WatsApp formatting textIf you find this difficult to remember, there is another way to adjust the formatting. Type the message in WhatsApp. Then tap twice on the word you want to edit. A black bar will appear above the word. Tap on ‘BI

YOU’. Then you can choose from ‘Bold’, ‘Italics’, ‘Strikethrough’ and ‘Monospace’.

2. Make your messages disappear automatically

Sometimes you don’t want your messages to be saved forever. We have a good solution for that in these iPhone tips. You can choose to have the messages you send to a specific contact disappear automatically. You do that in the following way.

  1. Automatically delete messages in WhatsApp

  2. Open a conversation with the contact where you want the messages to disappear automatically;

  3. Tap the contact’s name at the top;

  4. Scroll down and tap ‘Messages with due date’;

  5. Choose the option ’24 hours’;

Your messages will automatically disappear after 24 hours.

Note: Anyone in the conversation can change the setting.  Also keep in mind that the pictures you send are usually automatically saved on the recipient's phone.  The message with the photo will disappear, but the photo may still be on the recipient's device.

whatsapp expiration date

3. Mark messages to make them easier to find

When someone sends you an important message, it is useful to have it quickly at hand. But if the same person inundates you with messages, you quickly lose the important message.

  • There are many tricks for this: for example, you can take a screenshot to save the important message. But why not use WhatsApp’s built-in feature? You can also mark an important message. You do that in the following way.
  • Open the conversation containing the important message;
  • Hold down your finger on the message until a new window with options appears;
Tap the 'Starmark' option.

iphone tips: mark WhatsApp messages

The message is now saved. To view all messages with a star, first return to the overview with all WhatsApp conversations. Then tap “Settings > Starred Messages” at the bottom. You will then see all messages that you have marked with a strong.

4. Save and export conversation

  • In these iPhone tips you have already been able to read that you can mark a message to save. Want to archive an entire chat conversation for later? Then there is an easier way. You do this by exporting the WhatsApp conversation. Here are the steps to follow:
  • Open the conversation in WhatsApp that you want to export;
  • Tap the name at the top of the conversation;
  • Scroll down and tap ‘Export chat’;
  • Choose ‘Add media’ to include all images and videos, otherwise choose ‘Without media’;
The conversation is put in one file that you can immediately share or save.

iphone tips: export WhatsApp chat

More tips and tricks for iPhone and iPad These were this week’s iPhone tips. Want more tips? Then read the 6 best new tips for your iPhone and the functions that are (secretly) enabled in iOS 15. Also keep regular iPhoned

  • Stay tuned for more tips and tricks!

  • iPhone Tips: Four Hidden Features of WhatsApp (You Don’t Know)

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