WhatsApp will let messages disappear after being read on Android

WhatsApp is developing a feature that will let users choose whether messages disappear automatically after being read. This feature will make it easier for users to keep their conversations private and control how long their messages remain visible.

WhatsApp beta is testing new timing options for disappearing messages

In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.24.18 update, we announced a feature that allows users to choose short timers for disappearing messages. With this feature, it will be possible to select a timer between 1 hour and 12 hours. This will make it easier for users to control how long their messages remain visible. It is also intended for specific situations where users want their messages to disappear quickly.

Note that this feature is still in active development. WhatsApp is refining the experience to ensure timers work reliably for all users. In the meantime, WhatsApp also aims to further improve disappearing messages by adding more flexible timer options. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.12.2 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature that makes messages disappear after being read.

As you can see from the attached image, WhatsApp is exploring a new feature that will add a new timer option to disappearing messages. While this feature is currently under development and scheduled for release in a future update, it already aims to make messages more private than even. Disappearing messages is an optional feature that users can enable for more privacy. Currently, users can choose to make their message disappear when the timer expires. Users can select a timer from 3 different options, such as 24 hours, 7 days, and 90 days. These options give users greater control over how long their messages remain visible.

However, some users may want stricter options to make messages disappear in less than 24 hours. For example, someone might send a sensitive work update that should disappear within an hour, or a personal note meant to be seen only briefly. Another scenario could be sharing a one-time password or verification code that should expire quickly for security reasons. Stricter options could enhance privacy, but it also risks recipients not being able to read the messages before the timer runs out.

With a future update, WhatsApp will address this issue by introducing a new message timer option. This option is called "After reading", and it will make it easier for users to ensure their messages disappear immediately after being seen. When users select this option, new messages will disappear from their chat 15 minutes after they're sent. Instead, they will disappear from the recipient's chat 15 minutes after they're read. If the messages are never read, they will automatically disappear after 24 hours. Users will be able to choose this timer option on a per-chat basis or for all chats.

For example, if Mark sends a message to Chris using the "After reading" timer, the message will vanish from Mark's chat 15 minutes after being sent. Once Chris reads it, the message will disappear from his conversation after 15 minutes. If Chris never reads the message, it will disappear from his conversation after 24 hours. This feature ensures that messages remain private even if they are not immediately viewed. Additionally, the sender has more control over how long their messages are accessible in both chats.

Note that this feature is also compatible with read receipts being turned off. Messages will disappear from the sender's phone 15 minutes after being sent, regardless of whether the recipient has read them. It does not matter if the sender knows whether the messages have been read or not, as they will still vanish from the recipient's phone. As a result, the feature will ensure that privacy for disappearing messages is preserved even when read receipts are disabled.

The feature that makes messages disappear after being read is currently under development, and it is planned for release in a future update. At the moment, WhatsApp is refining how the new timer is applied to ensure the feature works smoothly and reliably for all users. Once testing is complete, WhatsApp will release this feature to some beta testers, making it simpler for users to control the visibility of their messages and enhance their privacy.

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