(Credit: René Ramos; Meta)
WhatsApp—the top messaging app in the world—is constantly evolving. The platform has added tons of new features since it first launched back in 2009, and if you haven't kept a close watch on all the updates that have rolled out over the years, there's a good chance you're not taking full advantage of what WhatsApp has to offer here in 2024.
No matter if you're totally new to the app or a longtime user looking to make the most of it, we're here to help. Here are all the WhatsApp tips and tricks you should be using:
1. Stop the Spam
One super annoying thing about WhatsApp is that the second that you open it, you'll probably get tons of messages that you've been added to groups against your will, making you the subject of more spam than you might get in weeks on iMessage. But you can put a stop to this. Go to Settings > Privacy > Groups > Who Can Add Me to Groups?. You'll see that the default is Everyone. Change it to either My Contacts, My Contacts Except, or Nobody, depending on your preference.
To remove yourself from any groups you've already been added to, open the group chat, tap on the group's name, then tap Exit.
2. Delete Sent Messages
There are some things you can never take back—but thankfully you can delete a message in WhatsApp up to 15 minutes after you sent it. Doing so will result in a message of "This message was deleted," but that might be better than whatever you said.
To delete a sent message, go to the message in question, tap and hold it, and choose Delete followed by Delete for Everyone. You can also delete any media you sent in a conversation by tapping and holding it and then selecting the trash can icon.
If you're the administrator of a group, you can delete someone else's message by tapping and holding the message, selecting the trash can icon, then Delete for Everyone > Delete.
3. Edit Messages After Delivery
(Credit: WhatsApp)Sometimes, you don't want to delete a message; you just want to fix it. For that, you can edit a message by tapping and holding it and then selecting Edit. This works for 15 minutes from when the message was sent, and the changed message will have an Edited tag on it.
4. Enable Two-Factor Verification
Two-step verification is a must if you're concerned about security. If you decide you want it on WhatsApp, you'll have to enter a six-digit passcode when you use the app, but the inconvenience is worth the peace of mind. To enable it, go to Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification > Enable, and you'll be asked to create a passcode. Make sure to also enter your email address when prompted so you can disable two-step verification if you ever forget your passcode.
5. Back Everything Up
To save chats, whether you're sentimental or stocking up on blackmail material, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now.
6. Send Snap-Style Temporary Messages
If you want to send a message that doesn't stick around, use the View Once feature.
For media like photos and videos, open a chat, tap the camera icon to take a photo or video or select Albums for an existing one. Then tap the 1 with a circle around it, wait for it to turn green, and hit send.
For voice messages, tap the microphone, swipe up to lock the recording, then tap and hold record. Tap the 1 with a circle around it, wait for it to turn green, and hit send.
7. Share Your Location
(Credit: WhatsApp)If you don't mind being caught in an "I'm five minutes away" fib, you might want to try WhatsApp's Live Location feature. Share your location by opening a chat, clicking on the plus sign, and selecting Location, where you'll see an option to Share Live Location. It's a handy way to find someone in a crowd or to get an idea how long you have to wait before your friend shows up.
8. Lock It Up
Protect your WhatsApp chats from phone snoopers by going to Settings > Privacy > App Lock and then selecting whatever biometric lock that your phone has.
9. Make Your Personal Details Private
(Credit: Chandra Steele/PCMag)Do you want to be friendly but not give too much away on WhatsApp? Protect your privacy by going to Settings > Account > Privacy. There you can change who can see when you were last active, your profile photo, your bio, what groups you belong to, and your status. You can also turn off read receipts, though you will then, in turn, not be able to see others' read receipts.
10. Maximize Your Video Calls
WhatsApp offers video calling with up to 32 participants. To make a video call to one person, go to Chats, tap the person or group you'd like to call, and then select the Video Call icon at the top of the screen.
For a group call, go to or create a group chat with everyone, then at the top of the chat, click the Video Call icon.