How to turn disappearing messages on or off

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You can send messages that disappear after a set period of time on WhatsApp by turning disappearing messages on.
You can turn disappearing messages on for one or many existing chats, or set up disappearing messages by default for all new chats in future.
When you turn disappearing messages on, you can choose to have messages disappear after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days, unless the messages are kept. Disappearing messages can also be kept in the chat so that they won’t disappear.
New messages sent in the chat will disappear after the duration you select. This applies to new messages in the chat only, not previous messages you’ve sent or received.

Turn disappearing messages on or off by default

Anyone can turn on disappearing messages by default. Once turned on, all new individual chats will start with disappearing messages set to the duration you select.
  1. Click
    three dots
    Settings > Privacy.
  2. Click Default message timer.
  3. Click 24 hours, 7 days, 90 days, or Off.
  4. If you want to apply the timer to existing chats, click "by selecting them". Click the checkbox next to each chat.
  5. Click
    green checkmark

Turn on disappearing messages in a specific chat

Anyone can turn on disappearing messages in an individual chat. Once turned on, new messages in the chat will disappear after the duration you select.
  1. Open a chat.
  2. Click the contact’s name.
  3. Click Disappearing messages.
    • If prompted, click Continue.
  4. Select 24 hours, 7 days, 90 days, or Off under Message timer.
  5. Click
    green checkmark

Turn off disappearing messages in a specific chat

Anyone in the chat can disable disappearing messages at any time. You can keep specific messages to stop them from disappearing, as long as the duration time hasn’t passed.
If you disable disappearing messages, you can’t keep them.
  1. Open a chat.
  2. Click the contact’s name.
  3. Click Disappearing messages.
    • If prompted, click Continue.
  4. Click Off.
  5. Click
    green checkmark

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