Updated “Delete Messages” Feature on WhatsApp Revealed

An update for WhatsApp’s “Delete Messages” feature is inbound, reports WABetaInfo. And while the feature is not yet available, it could allow users to automatically delete messages after a set amount of time in both private and group chats.

First discovered in October 2019, previous reports suggested that this function would only be useful in group chats – however, the latest beta version includes the feature in private chats as well.

Here’s how the “Delete Messages” feature will work:

The “Delete Messages” feature will automatically delete any and all messages sent in private conversations or group chats after they have exceeded a predetermined amount of time.

To make use of this feature, users will need to ensure that it has been turned on for each chat. To activate it, users simply need to activate it via the contact info or group chat settings.

My Broadband says that “only administrators will be able to enable this feature for groups, however”.

Once the feature has been activated, a timer indicating the predetermined period will materialise next to the chat bubbles.

When the feature is rolled out, users will have the chance to select from several time delay options including:

• Off
• 1 hour
• 1 day
• 1 week
• 1 month
• 1 year

“It is unclear when this new functionality will roll out to users, and the feature is not currently being tested on iOS,” says My Broadband.