WhatsApp It has become the most widely used instant messaging tool in the world, becoming an indispensable application for millions of people who want to stay connected with family, friends, coworkers, or any other contact. However, although send text messages, photos and videos It is the most common, the truth is that WhatsApp hides countless functions and little known tricks that can significantly improve the user experience, privacy and the productivity of those who take the time to discover them. If you've used WhatsApp exclusively for the basics, this article is designed to help you get the most out of the app. Here you'll find a complete compilation of the Unknown tricks for WhatsApp on Android The most useful, practical, and up-to-date tools, including all the secrets that don't usually appear in the main menus and that will allow you to personalize your experience, protect your privacy, and make your digital communication much more efficient.
Tricks and hidden features in WhatsApp Android that you should know
WhatsApp is constantly evolving with new features and improvements, but it also incorporates Advanced Options that are not visible to the naked eye. Below, you'll discover how to manage your privacy from advanced to tips for save space, personalize your experience, and tips to get the most out of chats, groups, calls, and more.
Mute and customize statuses
The WhatsApp statuses They work similarly to the temporary stories in other apps, allowing you to share photos, texts, videos, and GIFs that disappear after a short period of time. However, constantly checking the statuses of all your contacts can become annoying or irrelevant.
- Mute individual statuses: Go to the Statuses tab, long-press the contact's status you don't want to see, and select 'Mute.' Muted statuses will move to the bottom of the list and won't notify you every time they post a new message.
- Prevent others from knowing that you have seen their statuses: You can disable read receipts from the menu Settings> Account> Privacy, unchecking the 'Read Receipts' option. This setting will also prevent them from seeing when you read their messages, so it's an all-or-nothing privacy issue.
Search and send GIFs without downloading them
Sending animated GIFs is a fun way to express emotions or reactions. WhatsApp includes a integrated GIF search engine in the emoji menu (smiley face icon), where you can search and send GIFs directly without having to download them from the internet. To expand your options, learn how Get the new emoticons and GIFs on WhatsApp.
Advanced privacy management: control who sees every detail
Privacy is paramount on WhatsApp, and the app provides several layers of protection:
- Hide your profile picture, last seen and status: Accede to Settings> Account> Privacy and decide who can see information like your photo, about you, last seen, status, or whether you're online. You have options for "Everyone," "My contacts," "My contacts except..." and "No one" to customize every aspect.
- Contact exceptionsIf you only want to hide information from certain people, choose the “My contacts except…” option and select the contacts who won’t be able to see your photo, information, status, or last seen.
- Disable read receipt: If you don't want them to know when you read messages or statuses, turn it off, but remember that you won't see other people's either.
- Prevent strangers from adding you to groups: Limit who can add you to groups from Privacy > Groups, choosing “Everyone,” “My contacts,” or “My contacts except…”.
Archive chats and hide conversations
Many times we want to keep conversations going without them taking up space on the main screen, but without deleting them:
- Archive individual or group chats: Long press on the chat and select the 'Archive' option. The chat will disappear from the main list, but it can be easily retrieved when you receive a new message or from the 'Archived' section.
- Bulk archive: In Settings > Chats > Chat History, you can archive all chats at once with the corresponding function.
- Hide sensitive chatsWhile WhatsApp doesn't allow you to set a password for individual chats, you can archive chats you want to keep out of quick view and strengthen your protection by enabling a full WhatsApp fingerprint lock.
Lock WhatsApp with fingerprint or biometrics
To prevent unauthorized access to your conversations, lock WhatsApp using your fingerprint. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint Lock and follow the steps. This way, even if someone takes your unlocked phone, they'll need your fingerprint to access WhatsApp. You can also check how to mute a contact on WhatsApp to better manage your private notifications.
- On iOS, you can enable Face ID or Touch ID lock from the Screen Lock settings.
Remove and manage automatic file saving
Constantly sending photos, videos, audio files, and documents can fill up your phone's storage. WhatsApp allows you to carefully control file downloads:
- Turn off automatic download: Adjust what type of files are automatically downloaded in Settings > Storage & data > Auto-downloadYou can differentiate between mobile data, Wi-Fi, and roaming.
- Download only via Wi-FiTo save mobile data, set photos and videos to download only when you have Wi-Fi.
- Manage your storage: Accede to Settings > Storage & data > Manage storage to delete large files, forwarded messages, or group items to free up space.
Format your messages: bold, italics, strikethrough, and monospace
Make your messages stand out by using special formatting. WhatsApp allows you to change the appearance of your text:
- Bold type: Write the text between asterisks (*text*)
- Italics: Use underscores (_text_)
- Strikethrough: Use tildes (~text~)
- Monospaced: Put three grave accents before and after («`text«`)
Additionally, you can select a word by clicking on the text and choose the desired format from the editor's pop-up options.
Create shortcuts on the home screen
If you want to have your most important chats just a tap away, you can create shortcuts to any chat on your Android device's home screen. Long-press the chat, select 'More options' (the three dots), then choose 'Create shortcut,' and the chat will appear on your home screen like an app.
Use WhatsApp Web and Desktop to sync your experience
Working from your computer is easier with WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop. Just access web.whatsapp.com Or download the desktop app, scan the QR code from your phone, and you'll immediately be able to send messages, files, and access all your conversations on your PC or Mac. Remember that this feature requires your phone to be connected to the internet, but sessions can remain active even if the app is temporarily closed on your phone.
Send messages to unsaved contacts and to yourself
- Messages to unsaved numbers: Use your browser and type wa.me/ followed by the international prefix and phone number (example: wa.me/34123456789). A direct chat will open without having to add the contact to your address book. For more options, visit What can and can't be done on WhatsApp Web.
- Send reminders or files to yourselfYou can create a chat with yourself using the same method as above or by taking advantage of the "Message Yourself" feature available natively in recent chats. It's ideal for using WhatsApp as a notepad.
Highlight and retrieve important messages easily
To avoid losing key information, mark messages as figures by holding them down and tapping the star icon. All your starred messages can be viewed from the settings menu under 'Starred Messages'.
Customize notifications and wallpapers for each chat
- Custom notifications: Enter the contact or group information, select 'Custom Notifications,' and assign different ringtones, vibrations, or alert styles. This way, you'll know who's texting you without looking at the screen.
- Different backgrounds for each chat: Change the background of each conversation individually from the chat options and choose images, solid colors, or pre-designed backgrounds for a unique experience.
Change the size and visibility of emojis
Emojis automatically change size depending on how many you send in a single message. If you send just one, it will be large; if you send multiple, they will decrease to the standard size. You can also disable the visibility of WhatsApp media files in your phone's gallery from Settings > Chats > Media Visibility, keeping your private photos and videos out of the main gallery.
Advanced groups: communities, dissemination and participation control
- Create communities to group thematic chatsWhatsApp allows you to create communities that organize groups with similar interests, facilitating management and communication on shared topics. To learn more, check out Tricks to organize WhatsApp.
- Mailing lists: Send a single message to multiple contacts at once using the 'New Broadcast' feature, which creates individual messages without the need to create groups.
- Control who writes in the group: Limit message sending to admins by accessing the group settings and selecting the write permissions option.
- Temporary messages and self-destruction: Enable temporary messages for chats or groups. Messages will automatically disappear after a specified period, improving privacy.
- Leave a group discreetlyIf you don't want to be the center of attention, archive the group after muting it. You won't receive notifications, and the group will be removed from your home screen without officially deleting or leaving it.
Send and listen to voice notes with extra tricks
- Send voice notes without holding down: Press and hold the record button and swipe up to lock the recording. This way, you can record long messages without having to hold down the screen.
- Listen to your voice notes before sending them: Record the note and before pressing send, exit the chat. When you return, you'll have the option to play the audio and decide whether to send or delete it.
- Listen to audios without marking them as read: Forward the voice message to a chat with yourself and listen to it there, without the sender receiving playback confirmation.
- Listen to voice notes privately: Play the audio and hold your phone to your ear. The proximity sensor will switch the sound from the external speaker to the internal speaker, as if it were a call, to prevent others from listening in.
Make extended group voice and video calls
WhatsApp allows you to do voice calls y video calls Both individual and group calls. You can start calls in one-on-one chats or create group calls for up to eight people from your mobile device, and more using shared links or Messenger Room integrations for extended video conferencing.
Send videos without sound and create your own GIFs
- Remove sound when sending videosBefore sharing a video, tap the speaker icon in the editor to mute the audio. This way, only the image will be sent.
- Convert videos to GIFs: Select a video and in the editor, trim it to 6 seconds and press the 'GIF' option to send it as an animation.
Export and save entire chats
From Settings > Chats > Chat History > Export Chat You can save individual or group conversations and email them with or without media files, useful for personal backups or legal evidence.
Starred and unread messages
- Mark important messages as starred: Press and hold the star icon. You'll be able to view them later in the 'Starred Messages' menu.
- Mark chats as unread: Long press on a chat and select 'Mark as unread' to remind yourself to check it later.
Use WhatsApp search engines to locate everything
You have two search engines: a general one on the main screen to locate messages, links, or files in all conversations, and a specific one within each chat. Simply tap the magnifying glass icon and type keywords to quickly find what you're looking for.
Customize WhatsApp: Change the theme and dark mode
The WhatsApp interface can be adapted to your visual preferences. In Settings > Chats > Theme You can enable dark mode to reduce eye strain and save battery life on phones with OLED displays. To learn more ways to customize, check out whatsapp tricks.
Set up WhatsApp as a digital notepad
Use the chat with yourself to save reminders, photos, links, documents, or voice messages. Everything will stay synced across your devices and accessible from WhatsApp Web or Desktop. If you want to better manage your notes, check out WhatsApp video calls and advanced features.
Control your account security: two-step verification
Activate the two step verification from Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification to add an extra code that you'll need to enter every time you install WhatsApp on a new device. This makes account theft more difficult. For more security tips, check out Tricks to increase your privacy on WhatsApp.
Manage number changes and chat transfers
If you change your phone number, use the option Change number en Settings > Account to migrate all your conversations, groups, and settings without losing data. You can also transfer your chat history to another device using Google Drive's backup and restore features. For additional tips, visit .
Share your contact information easily with a QR code
WhatsApp lets you share your personal contact information via a QR code. Go to Settings and tap the QR code icon next to your name to display it and have someone else scan it. You can also scan other people's codes to quickly add them without dictating or manually saving the number. To learn more, visit How to create custom stickers on WhatsApp.
Advanced Privacy Tricks: Prevent Strangers from Knowing About You
- Restrict the visibility of your profile: Limit your photo, information, and statuses to “My Contacts” or “Nobody.” Consider adding specific exceptions to block only specific users.
- Avoid screenshots of your profile pictureWhatsApp introduces anti-screenshot features for your profile picture, making it impossible for others to save it without your permission.
- Hide your connection and online: Decide whether others can see your online status or your last usage time, even for entire groups of contacts.
- Set privacy for information and statuses: You can set your statuses or profile information to be visible to only a select group by choosing “Share only with” and selecting the desired contacts.
- Control read receipts: Remember that if you disable this option, you won't receive confirmations from others either. Use this if you prioritize privacy over reciprocity.
Additional tips for advanced users
- Automate scheduled messages: Although WhatsApp doesn't include a native feature for scheduling messages, there are secure and compatible third-party apps like those on Android that allow you to send messages on a specific date and time (useful for birthdays or reminders).
- Use shortcuts to share location: Share your real-time or current location with contacts or groups, ideal for meeting up or letting people know if you're on the way.
- Pixelate images before sending them: Use the built-in editor to blur or pixelate parts of an image and hide sensitive information before sharing.
Advanced storage management and selective cleaning
En Settings > Storage & data > Manage storage You can see in detail how much space each chat or group takes up, identify the files that are taking up the most space, and delete only images, videos, or stickers, keeping the text. This way, you'll keep WhatsApp lean and tidy, deleting only what you don't really need.
