WhatsApp Tricks 2026: 10 Settings Worth Turning On
WhatsApp has more useful features than most people ever turn on. This guide covers ten of them, with the menu path for each, so you can set any one up in under a minute. Every tip works in the official app. Menu names can differ slightly by phone and app version, so update the app first if something is missing.
Pin the chats you use most
Pinning keeps a chat at the top of your list, even when other chats get newer messages. It is the quickest way to tidy a busy chat screen.
- Long-press the chat.
- Tap the pin icon at the top.
- To remove it, long-press again and tap unpin.
Star messages you will need again
An address, a booking number, a link a friend sent: star it and it is saved in one place, so you never scroll back through weeks of chat.
- Long-press the message.
- Tap the star icon.
- Open the main menu and choose Starred messages to see them all.
Format your text
Type a symbol before and after the words you want to change, with no space inside the symbols.
| Style | Type |
|---|---|
| Bold | *your text* |
| Italic | _your text_ |
| Strikethrough | ~your text~ |
| Monospace | Three backticks before and after |
Hide your last seen and online status
You can decide who knows when you were last on WhatsApp, and give different people different answers.
- Open Settings, then Privacy.
- Tap Last seen and online.
- Choose Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except, or Nobody.
Choose who sees your profile photo
By default, people who only have your number may see your photo. Narrow it down, which helps if you share your number with sellers or delivery contacts.
- Open Settings, then Privacy.
- Tap Profile photo.
- Pick My contacts, or My contacts except to hide it from specific people without blocking them.
Turn on disappearing messages
Messages delete themselves after a set time. They suit one-time codes, temporary addresses or private plans.
- Open the chat and tap the contact or group name.
- Choose Disappearing messages.
- Pick 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days.
Lock private chats
A locked chat needs your fingerprint, face or phone code to open, and moves into a separate locked folder, away from your normal list.
- Open the chat and tap the contact name.
- Turn on Chat lock.
- Confirm with your fingerprint or face.
Search by type, not just by word
Search can filter by content type, so you can jump straight to the photo, link or document you remember sending.
- Tap the search bar on the main screen.
- Pick a filter: photos, videos, links, GIFs, audio or documents.
- Add a word to narrow the results.
Message yourself as a notepad
Start a chat with yourself and use it as a free notepad for text, photos, files and links, available on any device where you use WhatsApp.
- Tap the new chat button.
- Pick your own name at the top of the list.
- Send yourself anything you want to keep.
Back up your chats and encrypt the backup
A backup saves your chats and media when you lose a phone or switch to a new one. Check it today, not after a problem.
- Open Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup.
- Choose how often to back up.
- Turn on end-to-end encrypted backup for a password only you hold.
Which tip should you set up first?
Never lose chats
Tip 10, backup
More privacy
Tips 4, 5 and 7
Find things faster
Tips 1, 2 and 8
Clearer messages
Tips 3 and 9
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the backup. A lost phone then means lost chats.
- Using an asterisk for italics. Italics need an underscore.
- Trusting disappearing messages too much. They do not stop screenshots.
- Forgetting the backup password. An encrypted backup cannot be opened without it.
- Not updating the app. Many features exist only in recent versions.
Some people move to a modded app for extra themes and privacy options. Read our MB WhatsApp APK guide to see what it adds. WhatsApp can ban accounts that use modded apps, so try it on a spare number. If you switch, here is how to transfer your chats.
Frequently asked questions
Do all these tips work on iPhone?
I cannot find a setting. What should I do?
Can someone tell that I hid my last seen?
Do disappearing messages stop screenshots?
Can I lock a group chat?
Final thoughts
Most of these tips take under a minute and you set them up once. Pick two or three that match how you use WhatsApp, turn them on today, and come back for the rest when you need them. Start with the backup and your privacy settings, because those protect you the most.
