WhatsApp is working on a new privacy feature that could change how disappearing messages work.
Instead of deleting messages after a fixed time from when they are sent, users may soon be able to make messages disappear right after they are read.
This feature was first seen in the Android beta version and is now available for some iPhone beta users as well.
New ‘After Reading’ Option Spotted in Beta Version
According to WABetaInfo, the new feature is available for some users using WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.19.10.72 through Apple’s TestFlight program. Some App Store users may also start seeing it before the wider rollout.
The new setting appears as an “After Reading” option inside WhatsApp’s disappearing messages section. With this feature, the timer will begin only after the receiver reads the message.
Users may get three timing options:
5 minutes
1 hour
12 hours
If the message is not opened, WhatsApp will automatically delete it after 24 hours.
Existing Disappearing Message Options Will Stay
WhatsApp already offers disappearing message timers of:
24 hours
7 days
90 days
Users can apply these settings to individual chats or make them the default for all new chats.
The new “After Reading” feature will be optional, meaning users will have to turn it on manually. Existing chats will continue working normally unless the feature is enabled.
How the Feature Will Work
Reports suggest that the sender’s copy of the message may disappear based on the selected timer, while the receiver’s countdown will only start after the message is read.
WhatsApp has not officially announced a public release date yet. However, the feature is expected to reach more beta testers in the coming weeks before a wider rollout.
