Not every conversation needs to remain in your chat history forever. In those cases, you can enable disappearing messages on WhatsApp and have new messages disappear after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
This feature is useful for coordinating plans, sharing information that will soon be outdated, or simply keeping your chat history from becoming cluttered.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to set disappearing messages on Android, iPhone, and WhatsApp Web. We’ll also cover group chats, the default message timer for new conversations, and how to keep an important message from disappearing.
How to Set Disappearing Messages on WhatsApp
WhatsApp disappearing messages make new messages in a conversation disappear after a set amount of time. According to the official WhatsApp Help Center, you can choose from three durations:
- 24 hours
- 7 days
- 90 days
Choose a timer based on how long you may need to refer back to the conversation. For example, 24 hours may work for information you only need that day, while 7 days or 90 days will keep messages available for longer.
The timer starts when each message is sent, not when the recipient reads it. It also applies to the entire conversation, so you do not need to enable the setting each time you send a message.
To turn on disappearing messages in an individual or group chat:
- Open WhatsApp and enter the chat you want to configure.
- Tap the contact or group name at the top.
- Select Disappearing messages.
- Choose 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
After you choose a duration, WhatsApp will display a notice in the conversation letting participants know that disappearing messages are turned on.
Only messages sent after you enable the feature will disappear. Therefore, older messages will remain in the conversation. Messages that participants choose to keep will also remain after the timer expires.
In group chats, the ability to change the timer depends on the group permissions. Admins can control who is allowed to modify this setting. For more control over group conversations, you can also change who can add you to WhatsApp groups.
The location and wording of some options may vary slightly between Android and iPhone or after a WhatsApp update.
How to Enable Disappearing Messages on WhatsApp Web
You can also turn on disappearing messages from a desktop browser:
- Open WhatsApp Web.
- Enter the conversation you want to configure.
- Click the contact or group name at the top.
- Select Disappearing messages.
- Choose 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
The same steps work for group chats. Open the group information, select Disappearing messages, and choose a timer.
How to Set a Default Message Timer on WhatsApp
You can set a default timer so that new conversations use disappearing messages automatically, without enabling the feature one chat at a time.
The timer applies only to new individual chats you start. It does not change existing conversations or automatically apply to groups. WhatsApp will also display a notice in each new chat explaining that you use a default message timer.
On Android and iPhone
- Open WhatsApp.
- On Android, tap the three-dot menu and select Settings. On iPhone, tap Settings in the bottom navigation bar.
- Select Privacy.
- Tap Default message timer.
- Choose 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
On WhatsApp Web
- Open the WhatsApp Web menu.
- Go to Settings > Privacy.
- Click Default message timer.
- Choose 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
After you start a new individual chat, WhatsApp will apply the selected duration and display a notice informing the other person.
How to Keep an Important Disappearing Message
WhatsApp lets participants keep specific messages so they do not disappear when the timer ends.
To keep a message:
- Press and hold the message.
- Select Keep or tap the bookmark icon.
- Confirm the action if WhatsApp asks you to.
Kept messages display a bookmark icon and can also be viewed from the chat information screen.
However, WhatsApp explains that the original sender remains in control. The sender receives a notification when another participant keeps a message and can prevent it from staying in the chat. In that case, the message will disappear when its timer expires.
Will the Other Person Know You Turned On Disappearing Messages?
Yes. WhatsApp displays a notice in the conversation whenever someone turns on disappearing messages or changes the timer.
As a result, the other person will see the change when they open the chat. In group chats, the notice will be visible to all members.
Conclusion
To enable disappearing messages on WhatsApp, open the chat information, select Disappearing messages, and choose whether new messages should disappear after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
You can also set a default message timer from WhatsApp’s privacy settings so that new individual chats use the feature automatically.
Keep in mind that messages sent before you turn on the setting will remain in the conversation. WhatsApp will also notify participants whenever disappearing messages are enabled or the timer is changed.
