8 WhatsApp Tricks You Didn’t Know About But Should Be Using

With over 800 million monthly users in India, WhatsApp is not just the most used app in the country—it’s also a daily essential. From messaging and voice/video calls to UPI payments, its wide range of features makes it indispensable. However, beyond the basics, WhatsApp includes several underused tools that can help enhance privacy, simplify tasks, and improve your overall user experience.

Here are eight lesser-known WhatsApp tricks that can make your time on the app smarter and more efficient:

1. Format Your Messages: Bold, Italic, and Strikethrough

Just like word processors, WhatsApp allows text formatting to help highlight key parts of your messages.

• Bold: Add an asterisk (*) before and after the word or sentence. Example: Hello → Hello
  
• Italic: Add an underscore (_) before and after the text. Example: Hello → Hello
  
• Strikethrough: Add a tilde (~) before and after. Example: Hello → Hello
  

You can also combine formatting styles using multiple symbols. For instance, Hello results in italicised bold.

2. Search Specific Messages in a Chat

Need to revisit an old message without scrolling endlessly?

• Android: Open the chat, tap the three dots at the top right, then tap Search. Enter a keyword and hit search.
  
• iPhone: Open the chat, tap the contact's name, choose Chat Search, then enter the keyword.
  

This feature even allows filtering messages by date, helping you narrow results faster.

3. Use the ‘View Once’ Feature for Sensitive Media

For private photos or videos, use WhatsApp’s View Once feature to ensure the media is visible only once by the receiver. It also prevents saving or screenshotting.

Before sending, simply tap the icon with the encircled 1 on the media preview screen to enable this function.

4. Set Custom Wallpapers for Chats

Personalise your conversations by setting unique wallpapers for individual chats or groups.

• Go to Settings > Chats > Default Chat Theme > Wallpaper
  
• Choose from WhatsApp’s wallpaper gallery or select a photo from your own collection.
  

This feature helps distinguish different chats and adds a personal touch.

5. Pin Important Messages in a Chat

You can now pin up to three messages in a conversation to easily access important info like addresses, meeting details, or reminders.

• Android: Long-press the message, tap the three dots, and select Pin
  
• iPhone: Swipe right on the message and tap Pin
  

Pinned messages remain highlighted at the top of the chat for easy reference.

6. Swipe to Reply Quickly

Instead of long-pressing a message to reply, simply swipe right on the message. This instantly quotes it and opens the reply window.

It works the same way on both Android and iOS and makes conversations more fluid.

7. Enable Disappearing Messages for Private Chats

If you want your messages to vanish after a certain time, enable WhatsApp’s Disappearing Messages feature.

• Android: Go to Settings > Privacy > Default Message Timer. Choose from 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
  
• iPhone: Open Settings > Privacy > Default Message Timer, then select your preferred time limit and confirm.
  

This feature is ideal for confidential or short-term chats.

8. Stop WhatsApp from Auto-Saving Media

WhatsApp automatically saves incoming media to your phone, often cluttering your gallery. You can disable this:

• Android: Go to Settings > Chats > Toggle off Media visibility
  
• iPhone: Open Settings > Chats > Turn off Save to Photos
  

This gives you more control over storage and privacy.

These features might not be part of your daily WhatsApp habits yet, but learning how to use them can elevate your messaging experience, protect your data, and save time. Whether you're managing group chats, securing sensitive info, or just making conversations more organised, these hidden tools are worth exploring.