WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.19.11: what's new?
WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.26.19.11.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that makes new messages disappear after the recipient reads them, and it's available to some beta testers!
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | After reading for disappearing messages |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.19.11 is a compatible update. |
| Availability info: | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more users over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | Sc, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp is refreshing the business app icon on iOS! |
WhatsApp for iOS adds read-based disappearing messages to improve chat privacy
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.19.10.72 update, we announced a new feature that makes messages disappear after they've read. With this feature, WhatsApp adds a new layer of privacy to disappearing messages. Users on WhatsApp for iOS can choose whether their messages should disappear immediately after the recipient reads them. This offers users more control over their conversations since WhatsApp automatically remove messages once they're read.
WhatsApp brings read-based disappearing messages to Android beta users
The feature is already available to some beta testers on WhatsApp for iOS. But now, WhatsApp is expanding the same functionality to the Android beta version as well. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.19.11 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that makes new messages disappear after the recipient reads them.
WhatsApp lets users control how long messages are visible with disappearing timers
Users can enable disappearing messages to automatically deletes messages after a set period of time. With disappearing messages, WhatsApp removes new messages from the chat after the chosen duration expires. Users can enable disappearing messages to reduce how long their conversations are stored on the device. Users can choose between different timers depending on how long they want messages to remain visible. Specifically, WhatsApp offers these timers: 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. This feature gives users more control over their chat history and keeps their conversations more temporary.
Why very short message timers could cause problems
Some users may want greater flexibility than the current timers can provide. They may not always match the needs of some conversations that require more privacy. Introducing shorter timers, such as one hour after sending, could also create unintended drawbacks. For example, if a message is set to disappear one hour after it is sent and the recipient does not open WhatsApp during that time, they may never see it. This happens because WhatsApp removes the message from the chat before the recipient reads it. As a result, very short expiration times could make messages less reliable and harder to see.
WhatsApp introduces "After reading" timer to control when messages disappear
With the latest update, WhatsApp is addressing this issue by introducing a new timer. The timer is called "After reading", and it allows users to control when the message disappears after the recipient reads it. Once the message is read, WhatsApp automatically deletes it after a short period of time. The available options for the "After reading" timer are 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hours. Users can choose the duration that best fits how quickly they want their read messages to disappear.
How WhatsApp's "After reading" timer removes messages after they are opened
When a user sends a message using the "After reading" timer, the message remains fully visible in the recipient's chat until it is opened. However, it will disappear from the sender's device once the selected duration expires. The countdown does not start at the moment of sending. Instead, it starts when the recipient opens the conversation. For example, if the sender chooses a 5-minute timer, the recipient can still access the message at any time before opening it. Once the message is viewed, a 5-minute countdown begins on the recipient's device. After that time expires, WhatsApp automatically removes the message from the chat. If the recipient never opens the message, it will disappear after 24 hours.
WhatsApp is rolling out the After Reading option for disappearing messages on Android
The feature that makes new messages disappear after the recipient reads them is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta for Android updates from the Google Play Store. WhatsApp is currently testing this feature to a limited number of users. This means that this feature is not available to everyone. Over the next few weeks, WhatsApp will offer the new timer to more users, making it easier to control how long read messages remain visible.
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