Want messages in a WhatsApp conversation or group to disappear on their own after a while for a cleaner, faster, and more relaxed (or private) experience? Find out here how to send a self-destructing message in WhatsApp (on mobile and desktop).
First, Nikola Tesla Photographs a Screw and a Man
Only the metal screw could be seen, though, when Nikola Tesla took a photo—as was their wont—of his friend Mark Twain. The two were… screwing around, of course, and had lit the scene with a Geissler tube. The light coming from the tube was partly in the X-ray spectrum.
So, without wanting or knowing, they had produced one of the first X-ray images in 1895—and had made Twain practically disappear in a photograph.
Want to make a message disappear automatically in WhatsApp? Here’s what to know:
How to Send a Self-Destructing Message in WhatsApp
In the WhatsApp App for iOS and Android
Time needed: 2 minutes
To send a message that disappears automatically after 7 days in WhatsApp on a phone:
- Tap the contact or group’s name or avatar in WhatsApp.
Important: Do this before sending the message you want to disappear automatically.
Already sent: For messages you have already sent, you can unsend it within a few minutes. - Select Disappearing Messages.
- Choose On.
- Write the message that will self-destruct after a week.
- Optional: Turn off Disappearing Messages to send more messages that are not self-destructing.
In WhatsApp Desktop
To send self-destructing messages in WhatsApp in a desktop browser or desktop application:
- Click or tap the contact’s name atop the conversation.
Alternative: You can also click the three-dots Menu button, then select Contact Info from the menu that has appeared. - Select Disappearing Messages.
- Pick On.
- Click the left arrow (←).
- Now click ✖️ to close the Contact Info sheet.
How to Send a Self-Destructing Message in WhatsApp: FAQ
Do Self-Destructing WhatsApp Messages Simply Disappear?
Yes. Self-destructing WhatsApp messages disappear from the chat for both sender and recipient.
The note that disappearing messages have been turned on does remain in the chat, though.
Important: You cannot prevent recipients from taking screenshots or otherwise saving the message (and media) outside WhatsApp.
Do self-destructing messages disappear from replies?
No. If a disappearing message is quoted in a direct WhatsApp reply that is not itself self-destructing, the quoted part is still visible even after the original message has disappeared.
Are self-destructing messages in WhatsApp backups?
Yes, disappearing messages get backed up. If the backup is restored after the seven days have passed, the messages will disappear from the chat.
Are self-destructing messages in WhatsApp exports?
Yes, if you export a WhatsApp chat, the disappearing messages are saved permanently as text or media.
What happens if the message is not read within seven days?
Self-destructing messages disappear whether they have been seen or not.
Can I change the time when a message self-destructs?
No. Messages will disappear after a week. You can still unsend individual messages within seven minutes, of course.
Can I send disappearing messages to WhatsApp groups?
Yes. Group administrators can restrict to other admins the option to enable or disable self-destructing messages for the group.
(How to send a self-destructing message tested with WhatsApp 2.21 and WhatsApp desktop; updated April 2024)