WhatsApp Makes Disappearing Messages a Default Option With Multiple Durations

WhatsApp says it is rolling out a new option that makes disappearing messages the default behavior for all new chats on the end-to-end encrypted messaging platform.

whatsapp disappearing messages default
It's been over a year since WhatsApp launched its disappearing messages feature, which allows messages, photos, and videos to be marked to disappear after seven days. The feature can be enabled for direct messages and in groups by members with administrator privileges.

The latest development of the feature lets users set all new messages to disappear by default, giving them the choice to move away from the accustomed world in which there's a permanent digital record of everything that's said. From the company's blog post:

Today we are excited to provide our users with more options to control their messages and how long they stick around, with default disappearing messages and multiple durations.

WhatsApp users will now have the option to turn on disappearing messages by default for all new chats. When enabled, all new one-on-one chats you or another person start will be set to disappear at your chosen duration, and we've added a new option when creating a group chat that lets you turn it on for groups you create. This new feature is optional and does not change or delete any of your existing chats.

In addition to the default option, WhatsApp is also adding two new durations for disappearing messages: 24 hours and 90 days, as well as the existing option of 7 days.

To turn on disappearing messages by default for all new individual chats, go to WhatsApp Settings -> Account -> Privacy -> Default message timer, and then select a duration.

When someone chooses to switch to default disappearing messages, WhatsApp will display a message in their chats that tells people this is the default they've chosen, to make it clear that it's nothing personal.

Popular Stories

A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
replay all time playlist apple music

Apple Music Debuts All-New Personalized Playlist

Monday June 30, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
As part of its 10-year celebrations of Apple Music, Apple today released an all-new personalized playlist that collates your entire listening history. The playlist, called "Replay All Time," expands on Apple Music's existing Replay features. Previously, users could only see their top songs for each individual calendar year that they've been subscribed to Apple Music, but now, Replay All...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...

Top Rated Comments

Bandaman Avatar
47 months ago
I still don't understand why anyone uses this Facebook garbage.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kstotlani Avatar
47 months ago

Yes... "encrypted" ... from Facebook. I'm sure we can trust them on that. Telegram is a much better alternative and a lot of people are flocking to it.
Telegram isn’t encrypted by default. You have to do that with each chat and is quite painful.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imdropbear Avatar
47 months ago

I still don't understand why anyone uses this Facebook garbage.
It's actually very easy to understand. They simply were the first big messaging app that worked on iOS, Android and Windows Phone (he, that was a thing). Especially over in Europe, where the portion of Android phones was historically much larger, people couldn't use iMessages.

Nowadays there are plenty, better alternatives but due to the nature of a messaging app (you want to use one app to reach everyone) it's hard to get people to switch. Nobody wants to switch because nobody uses other messaging apps because nobody is switching because ... you see where this is going?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
szw-mapple fan Avatar
47 months ago
As long as this doesn't get turned on automatically in a buggy update. As the de facto family tech support, I don't want family members asking me about where their WhatsApp messages disappeared to.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dvanwinkle Avatar
47 months ago

Yes... "encrypted" ... from Facebook. I'm sure we can trust them on that. Telegram is a much better alternative and a lot of people are flocking to it.
I was right there with your line of thinking. Then I joined Facebook, and in particular WhatsApp. I know that you have no reason to trust me, but it’s really encrypted, and our servers collect the minimal amount of information to make the service work. We keep nothing else.

To take it a step further, every major change goes through a privacy review to ensue that we’re not storing any data that isn’t absolutely required.

So, why trust WhatsApp even though it’s from Meta over Telegram? We have dedicated employees to ensure that your data is safe. Do you think that there is a possible way that we can have the number of employees that we have and somehow not have it leaked that we’re actually doing evil things with your WhatsApp data?

Source: I’m a developer at WhatsApp
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MajorFubar Avatar
47 months ago

I still don't understand why anyone uses this Facebook garbage.
Because it's a cross-platform encrypted messaging service that works well on PCs, Macs, Android and iOS. Since Covid it's been the mainstay of many a businesses communications network for staff who suddenly found themselves WFH or furloughed without access to their usual office/business internal comms network. Two years ago I hadn't even heard of it.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)