Best WhatsApp Tips and Tricks, one of the most popular messaging apps globally, has evolved beyond simple text messaging. With over two billion active users, it continues to enhance communication through innovative features. From sending documents to making voice and video calls, WhatsApp has become an essential part of our digital lives. Yet, many users are still unaware of its full capabilities.
In this guide, we’ll explore 20 WhatsApp tips and tricks for 2024 to help you master the platform and make the most of its features. Whether you’re a new user or a seasoned pro, these tips will enhance your messaging experience.
The Best 20 WhatsApp Tips and Tricks for 2024
1. Use WhatsApp on Multiple Devices
One of WhatsApp Tips and Tricks latest updates allows you to use your account on up to four linked devices simultaneously. This means you can send and receive messages on your phone, tablet, computer, or another device without the need for your primary phone to stay connected. To set this up:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone.
- Go to Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device.
- Scan the QR code on the web or desktop version of WhatsApp using your phone.
This feature makes it easier to stay connected even if your primary device is unavailable.
2. Pin Important Chats
If you have important conversations that you frequently revisit, pinning them can save you time scrolling through long chat lists. Pinning keeps your essential chats at the top of your list. Here’s how:
- For Android: Long press the chat you want to pin and tap the Pin icon.
- For iPhone: Swipe right on the chat and tap Pin.
You can pin up to three chats to the top of your list, allowing for quick access to your most important conversations.
3. Set Disappearing Messages
For a cleaner chat experience and enhanced privacy, WhatsApp Tips and Tricks offers disappearing messages. With this feature, messages in a chat will automatically delete after a set time. You can enable this in individual or group chats:
- Open a chat, tap on the contact’s name, and select Disappearing Messages.
- Select a duration of either 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
This feature is particularly useful if you want to declutter your chats or keep conversations more private.
4. Customise Notifications
Customising notifications can help you prioritise messages from specific contacts. You can set custom tones or vibration patterns for different contacts, ensuring you know who’s messaging without looking at your phone. To customise notifications:
- Open the chat with the contact.
- Tap on the contact’s name and choose Custom Notifications.
- Choose different ringtones, vibration patterns, and notification lights.
5. Star Important Messages
WhatsApp lets you star important messages so that you can easily find them later. Whether it’s an address, a link, or a key piece of information, starring a message allows you to bookmark it. To star a message:
- Long press on the message and tap the Star icon.
To access all your starred messages:
- Go to Settings > Starred Messages.
6. Backup Your Chats
Backing up your WhatsApp chats is crucial to ensure you don’t lose your conversations, photos, and videos. WhatsApp allows you to back up your chats to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone). To set up automatic backups:
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Set up your preferred backup frequency (daily, weekly, monthly) and select the backup destination.
This ensures that your chat history is safely stored and can be restored if you switch devices.
7. Utilise WhatsApp Web Shortcuts
If you frequently use WhatsApp Web, knowing some keyboard shortcuts can make your experience more efficient. Here are a few handy ones:
- Ctrl + N: Start a new chat.
- Ctrl + E: Archive chat.
- Ctrl + Shift + M: Mute chat.
- Ctrl + Backspace: Delete chat.
- Ctrl + Shift + U: Mark as unread.
These shortcuts can significantly speed up your WhatsApp Web usage, especially when managing multiple conversations.
8. Search for Specific Messages
Scrolling through endless chats to find a particular message can be time-consuming. Fortunately, WhatsApp’s search feature allows you to search for specific keywords, phrases, or dates in a chat. To use the search function:
- Open the chat you want to search in.
- Tap the three dots (Android) or contact name (iPhone) and select Search.
- Type your keyword to find related messages.
You can also search across all chats by using the global search bar at the top of your chat list.
9. Send High-Quality Photos and Videos
By default, WhatsApp compresses images and videos to save data. However, if you need to send high-quality media, you can do so without losing resolution. Here’s how:
- When attaching media, instead of selecting Photos and Videos, choose Document.
- Browse to the location of the high-resolution image or video and send it as a document.
This trick ensures your media retains its original quality, which is essential for sharing important or professional content.
10. Schedule Messages (Using Third-Party Apps)
WhatsApp doesn’t have a built-in message scheduling feature, but you can use third-party apps to schedule messages. Apps like SKEDit allow you to set a time and date for messages to be sent automatically. This is useful for sending reminders, birthday greetings, or timely updates without having to remember the exact moment.
11. Enable Two-Step Verification
For added security, enable two-step verification on WhatsApp. This feature requires a six-digit PIN when registering your phone number on WhatsApp Tips and Tricks again, which can prevent unauthorised access to your account. To enable:
- Go to Settings > Account > Two-step verification.
- Set up your PIN and recovery email.
Two-step verification provides an additional layer of security, keeping your account safe from hackers.
12. Share Your Live Location
WhatsApp allows you to share your live location with contacts in real-time. This feature is great for coordinating meetups or letting someone know where you are during a trip. To share your location:
- Open a chat and tap the paperclip or plus icon.
- Select Location > Share Live Location.
- Choose the duration you want to share your location (15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours).
Your live location will update in real-time, giving the recipient accurate updates on your movements.
13. Mute Group Chats
While group chats can be fun and engaging, they can also be overwhelming with constant notifications. If you don’t want to leave the group but need a break from notifications, you can mute it. To mute a group:
- Access the group chat and select the group name.
- Select Mute Notifications and choose the duration (8 hours, 1 week, or always).
This will silence notifications from the group while still allowing you to check the messages when you want.
14. Hide Blue Ticks
If you prefer more privacy and don’t want people to know when you’ve read their messages, you can disable the blue ticks (read receipts). Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Read Receipts and toggle it off.
Keep in mind that if you turn off read receipts, you won’t be able to see when others have read your messages either, except in group chats where read receipts are still visible.
15. Format Text (Bold, Italic, Strikethrough)
WhatsApp lets you format your text with bold, italics, or strikethrough to add emphasis to your messages. Here’s how to do it:
- Bold: Add an asterisk (*) before and after the word or phrase. E.g., hello becomes hello.
- Italics: Add an underscore (_) before and after the word or phrase. E.g., hello becomes hello.
- Strikethrough: Add a tilde (~) before and after the word or phrase. E.g.,
hellobecomeshello.
Using these formatting options can make your messages stand out and convey tone or emphasis more effectively.
16. Use WhatsApp for Business
If you run a small business, WhatsApp Business is a fantastic tool to stay in touch with customers. It allows you to create a business profile, set up automated messages, and even create product catalogues. WhatsApp Tips and Tricks Business is designed for small business owners and is separate from the standard WhatsApp app. You can download it from the app store and set up your business account within minutes.
17. WhatsApp Tips and Tricks Broadcast Messages
Best WhatsApp Tips and Tricks in The broadcast feature lets you send a message to multiple contacts without creating a group chat. This is ideal for announcements, event invitations, or updates. To create a broadcast list:
- Tap the three dots (Android) or Broadcast Lists (iPhone).
- Select New Broadcast and choose the contacts you want to include.
Each recipient will receive the message as a private chat, and their responses will only come to you.
18. Turn Off Auto-Download
By default, WhatsApp automatically downloads media files, which can consume a lot of data and storage. You can customise this setting to avoid auto-download or limit it to Wi-Fi only:
- Go to Settings > Storage and Data > Media Auto-Download.
- Select which media types (photos, audio, videos, documents) you want to auto-download and choose Wi-Fi or Never.
This feature helps conserve mobile data and prevents your device from filling up with unnecessary files.
19. Use WhatsApp Stickers and GIFs
Stickers and GIFs are a fun way to express yourself beyond text and emojis. WhatsApp Tips and Tricks has an extensive library of stickers, and you can also download sticker packs or create your own. To send stickers or GIFs:
- Tap the Emoji icon in the text box, then tap the Sticker or GIF icon.
- Browse through the options or search for specific stickers or GIFs.
You can even create your own sticker packs using apps like Sticker Maker, allowing you to personalise your conversations.
20. Silence Unknown Callers
With the increasing number of spam and scam calls, WhatsApp allows you to silence unknown callers. This feature prevents calls from unknown numbers from ringing on your phone, though they will still appear in your call log. To enable:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Calls.
- Toggle Silence Unknown Callers on.
This helps reduce interruptions and gives you more control over who can contact you on WhatsApp.
Final Thoughts
WhatsApp Tips and Tricks is packed with useful features that many users overlook. By mastering these 20 WhatsApp Tips and Tricks, you can optimise your messaging experience, enhance privacy, and enjoy more control over your interactions. Whether you’re looking to keep your chats organised, improve security, or simply make communication more fun, these strategies will help you make the most of WhatsApp in 2024.
From managing group chats and protecting your privacy to using fun features like stickers and formatting text, these WhatsApp Tips and Tricks hacks will turn you into a pro user in no time. As WhatsApp continues to evolve, staying up-to-date with its new features and functionalities is essential for an enhanced, more secure messaging experience.