WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world, but many people only use a fraction of what it can do. Here is a plain-English tour of the features that are most useful in everyday life.
Sending a voice message
Sometimes it is easier to speak than type, especially on a small keyboard. To send a voice message, open a chat and hold your finger down on the microphone icon on the right side of the message bar. Speak while holding it. When you are finished, lift your finger. The recording will send automatically. If you want to listen back before sending, slide your finger to the left to lock the recording, then tap the play button. Tap the send button when you are happy with it.
Replying to a specific message
In busy group chats it can be hard to follow who said what. Instead of just typing a reply, you can link your message directly to the one you are responding to. Press and hold on the message you want to reply to, then tap the Reply option. Your reply will appear with a small preview of the original message above it, so everyone can see the context.
Starring important messages
If someone sends you an address, a phone number, or any information you want to find again easily, you can star the message. Press and hold on it, then tap the star icon. To find all your starred messages, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the main screen and choose Starred Messages.
Checking if your message was read
The two tick marks next to a sent message tell you its status. One grey tick means the message was sent. Two grey ticks mean it was delivered to the recipient’s phone. Two blue ticks mean it was read. If you only ever see grey ticks, the person may have no internet connection or their phone may be off.
Creating a group for a specific purpose
Groups are useful for coordinating with family, friends, or a small team. Tap the pencil icon or New Chat button, then choose New Group. Add the people you want, give the group a name, and tap the green arrow or Create. You can also add a photo for the group by tapping the camera icon on the group icon. The group creator becomes the admin, which means they can add or remove members and change the group name.
Keeping your chats private
If you share a phone with someone or simply want more privacy, you can lock individual chats. Open the chat, tap the name at the top, and look for the option called Chat Lock. You will be asked to use your fingerprint or PIN. A locked chat moves into a separate folder at the top of your chat list, away from your main messages.