Undoubtedly, WhatsApp is the most popular instant messenger all around the world. With over a billion users around the world, WhatsApp is definitely the giant among instant messengers. WhatsApp features include a load of tricks which creates a joyful IM experience for users. You might be using WhatsApp everyday but you might be unaware of its wonderful features. Check out these cool WhatsApp tips and tricks to get the most out of this wonderful instant messenger.
WhatsApp features for text formatting
WhatsApp allows you to format your texts to add a little bit of emphasis to your text or make a specific word stand out among the texts. WhatsApp features for text formatting requires you to know some tricks while you are typing. Here is how you can Bold, Italicize, or Strikethrough a text in WhatsApp.
To bold a text in WhatsApp, use asterisks before and after a word like this (*bold*)
To Italicize a text in WhatsApp, use underscores before and after a word like this (_underscore_)
To strikethrough a text in WhatsApp, use tildes before and after a word like this (~strikethrough~)
View WhatsApp in web browser
WhatsApp features include a desktop version which allows you to view your WhatsApp messages on your computer through your web browser. In order to use WhatsApp web, follow these steps.
- Visit WhatsApp Web on your web browser
- Lauch WhatsApp application on your phone
- Click on the 3 dots on top right corner and select WhatsApp Web (for Android) or click on settings and select WhatsApp Web (for iPhone)
- Scan the QR code from the website
- Now you are online on WhatsApp Web
Transfer files with WhatsApp
The good thing about WhatsApp web is that you can use it to transfer files from your phone to your computer without using a cable. You can send a particular photo for example to your friend with your phone and then you can use your desktop to download that photo to your computer.
WhatsApp backup for chats
WhatsApp features allow you to create a backup of your chat conversations easily. So, if you are about to reinstall your WhatsApp, you won’t need to worry for losing your chats. You can restore WhatsApp chat history from your backup. Here is how you can create a backup of your chats to your email.
for Android devices go to, Options > More > Email chat. For iPhone devices go to, Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
Then all you’ll need to do is to follow the instructions to create a backup of your chats.
WhatsApp backup to Google Drive and iCloud
Aside from your email, WhatsApp features allow you to create a backup of your chats to a cloud drive. If you are an android user, you can use your Google Drive, or if you are an iPhone user, you can use your iCloud.
for Android devices go to, Options > More > Email chat. For iPhone devices go to, Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
Then all you’ll need to do is to follow the instructions to create a backup of your chats to your cloud drive.
WhatsApp read recipient
There are times when your a friend keeps sending you messages on WhatsApp and you might be too busy to answer them. But if you see the message they will see the blue ticks showing that you have read the message. To save yourself from the trouble of explaining why you weren’t able to reply, you can use WhatsApp features to turn off those blue ticks.
Go to Accounts > Security and turn off Read recipient. Turn off this feature so that your friends won’t find out when you read their texts.
Star messages on WhatsApp
WhatsApp comes with a search feature which allows you to search for a particular message among the bulk of all your messages. This is of course useful but there is another feature which makes it even easier. You can star a particular message on whatsApp so that next time you need it, you will easily find it.
To add a message to your favorites, long press on a particular message and then tap on the star icon from the opened box.
In order to find your starred messages, go to Options > Starred messages for android devices and Settings > Starred Messages for iPhone.
WhatsApp security settings
WhatsApp respects your privacy and WhatsApp features allow you to maximize your privacy on whatsApp messenger. In order to check these features just head to Options > Account > Privacy or Settings > Account > Privacy on your iPhone.
WhatsApp Last Seen section allows you to define who can see your last seen time.
WhatsApp Profile photo allows you to choose who can see your photos.
WhatsApp Status sections allows to choose who can see your online status.
WhatsApp broadcast messages
WhatsApp features allow you to send a particular message to a group of friends at once. This is especially useful if you want to announce something to a number of friends. This feature makes it fast and easy.
For Android devices go to Options > New broadcast and go to Broadcast Lists on top of the chat page on iPhone. Then you will be able to choose the friends to whom you want to broadcast your message and send it.
Tag people or reply a message in chat conversations
In order to call out a person in your chat conversation, just type @the name of the person and that person will receive a notification even if they have turned off the notifications.
Also, long press on a particular message and tap on Reply from the opened box and type down your reply.
WhatsApp Data usage
WhatsApp may not be the most data friendly instant messenger, however, you can use WhatsApp features to cut down on your data usage while you are making WhatsApp calls. this feature makes your WhatsApp more data-friendly.
Go to Settings > Data usage > Call Settings and enable Low data usage on your Android device.
Go to Settings > Data and Storage Usage and enable Low Data Usage on your iPhone.
turn off whatsApp notifications
WhatsApp features allow you to turn off notification so that they won’t show up on your lock screen.
For Android devices, go to your device Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Notifications and turn off notifications for WhatsApp.
For iOS devices, go to your iPhone Settings > Notifications > WhatsApp and disable notifications for WhatsApp.
Hide chats with WhatsApp Archive
There are times when you don’t want to delete a particular chat from your list of chat conversations and you don’t want it to show up in your list of chats either. Well, whatsApp features allow you to add a particular chat to archives and you can hide it in a secret place.
To do so, long press on a chat conversation and tap on Archive from the opened box. This will allow you to archive that particular chat conversation. To access your archived chats, scroll all the way down to the bottom of your chat list and you will be able to see your Archived Chats.
How to hide WhatsApp images from gallery
You might be sending and receiving photos and video on whatsApp and they all show up in your gallery. WhatsApp features allow you to hide the images and videos from your gallery. But you will still be able to view the photos in your WhatsApp Here is how you can do that:
For Android devices:
Go to File manager and navigate to Internal storage > WhatsApp > Media. Rename ‘WhatsApp images’ and ‘WhatsApp videos’ files to ‘.WhatsApp images’ and ‘.WhatsApp videos’.
For iOS devices:
Go to Settings > Privacy> Photos and toggle off WhatsApp.
Doing this, photos and videos that you view on WhatsApp won’t turn up in your gallery or camera roll. But you will still be able to access them in your WhatsApp account.
WhatsApp tracking tool
All of use WhatsApp all the time and our kids and teens are no exceptions. Of course WhatsApp has made our lives a lot easier but it is not without its down sides either. Your kids can use WhatsApp to contact their friends, but they might also use WhatsApp to contact strangers or dangerous people. also, your teens might get involved in sexting or start sharing inappropriate photos and videos without considering its consequences. that is why parents need to use a WhatsApp tracking software to keep on eye on their kid’s online activities.
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one of the best and most trusted monitoring applications out in the market is Underspy which comes with WhatsApp spy feature. This feature of Underspy allows you to keep an invisible eye on your kid’s WhatsApp account and safeguard them from the potential dangers of the internet.