Hidden features of whatsapp. Secret features of WhatsApp and Viber. Will be useful to everyone! How to quickly find important messages

It is worth saying that the main functions of Whatsapp have provided it with multi-million user support from all over the globe. But it’s gratifying that the developers are by no means going to rest on their laurels and be content with what they have achieved. Global updates appear periodically that complement the list of features of this already wonderful .

Basic Whatsapp Features

Among the most important, so to speak, basic functions, first of all, it should be noted:

  • text correspondence in real time with other users;
  • creating group and individual chats;
  • the ability to attach all kinds of files to your messages;
  • call for free from one messenger to another;
  • Relatively recently, the ability to make video calls finally appeared. Of course, it's also free.

So all of the above is more than enough for full communication every day.

Whatsapp is available not only on mobile devices, but you can log into your account using a computer application or from your favorite Internet browser. The system activates a new account through the number mobile phone, to which the account is subsequently linked.

But you won’t be able to create a new account from your computer: you will still need to install the mobile version.

Interesting fact: according to the developers, the servers process 10 billion messages per day! And one day this number grew to 17 billion. And there is no reason not to believe this: after all, Whatsapp is actually installed on almost every smartphone.

It's easy to miss important changes when you use a program every day and updates come automatically. background. You may not even notice the update and have no idea what new it has brought for you. So I unexpectedly discovered new functions that were not previously available in WhatsApp. Moreover, the functionality is quite serious and I would not even be afraid to call it long-awaited. Below you will learn about six important innovations of the messenger.

1. Featured messages

In the process of communicating with friends and colleagues, messages often pop up that you want to “remember” in order to use them in the future. This could be a link to an interesting article, a photograph, or just an interesting thought. Previously, doing this was problematic, but now the situation has changed radically thanks to the ability to mark individual messages with an asterisk.



Highlight the desired message with a long press and click on the star at the top of the screen. The message will have a star icon at the bottom. After that, at any time you can find it in the list of favorite messages, which is accessible by clicking on the button with three vertical dots in the upper right corner. Everything is quite simple and convenient.

2. Automatic backup of chats to Google Drive

Initially, the WhatsApp application stores chat history only on users' devices. Changing the device or resetting led to the fact that the entire correspondence history was irretrievably lost. Later, the developers added the ability to transfer chats to another device, but it was very inconvenient.

And in one of them latest updates the developers decided to please their users and integrated automatic backup correspondence history on network drive Google Drive. Naturally, this requires a Google account.



Let's go to " Settings» → « Chats and calls» → « Chat backup" There we select the account, frequency and method of transfer. That's it, now everything will be backed up automatically. The main thing is to make sure that there is enough free space on Google Drive for backups.

3. An easy way to clear chats

To prevent the device from turning into a huge archive of correspondence and dragging down all the messages of recent years, the developers have added the ability to clear messages in chats.



Go to " Settings» → « Chats and calls» → « Chat history" There we select the necessary functions for clearing chats. At the same time, you can delete both all messages and old ones (older than 30 days or older than 6 months), which is very convenient if you use your correspondence history from time to time.

4. Mark chats as read/unread

By analogy with by email You can now mark chats as read or unread. This is very convenient in a number of cases. For example, you received an important message that you need to respond to, but you cannot write a response right now. You can try to remember this later, relying on your memory. But this does not guarantee that you will respond to the person. But if, after reading, you mark the message as unread, then the first time you turn on the device you will notice a notification and write a response.

Well, and vice versa, if you know that there is nothing important in the message and do not want to read it completely, then you can simply select the chat and mark it as read, so as not to waste time and not enter it.

5. Personal notification settings for contacts

Well, and one more interesting feature It became possible to set up personal notifications for contacts. This way you can set a personal signal for your boss or family members so that you can identify the sender from the entire flow of messages by sound.

You can set a ringtone, activate or disable vibration alerts, and set the color of the indicator on the phone panel for any contact from your list.


The popular WhatsApp messenger allows you not only to communicate, but to do it easily and naturally. With its help, you can add several secret points, export chats, and do many other useful things that can make life much easier.

1. Save phone memory and disable auto-download of files


When there are too many chats on WhatsApp, the smartphone's memory will run out very quickly, because files from them are constantly saved. To prevent this from happening again, after the next manual cleaning you should do this: go to the application settings and find the “Chats” section there, and then go to “Save to Camera Roll” for iOS and “Show media files in gallery” for Android . After this, you need to uncheck the box opposite.

2. Chat via WhatsApp from your computer


The popular messenger works not only on smartphones; it can also be used on a computer. To do this, you need to go to the official website and click WHATSAPP WEB in the site header. The same should be done on a smartphone. After this, read the QR code from the monitor. Congratulations, now you know how to access the messenger from almost any device that has a keyboard.

3. Make your account safer


All transferred files on WhatsApp are protected by encryption. The only one really affordable way to see the correspondence for an outsider - to spy on it directly on the smartphone. However, there is something you can do here too. Go to iOS settings, find the “Notifications” section and uncheck the “Show thumbnails” checkbox. On Android, you need to do the same with the “Pop-up notification” and “High level of notification importance” items.

4. Hide time spent on WhatsApp


You can hide your last appearance time and your WhatsApp status. For iOS users, to do this, go to the “ Account" - the "Confidentiality" item and there you can configure all the available columns about who can see you in the application and how. Everything is done in a similar way for Android users, only we go to the settings through the “Account” section - the “Privacy” item.

5. Save everything important


Even though WhatsApp has a conversation search feature, it is still not very user-friendly. Therefore, it is better to simply save all the most important things. To do this, iOS users should hold down the selected message and “poke” the asterisk. Android users should do the same.

6. Make text bold and italic


Sometimes there is a need to highlight a word. There are several ways to do this. The first is to select and click on a specific word, then select the desired function in the BIU pop-up menu. You can also mark words by placing specific symbols before and after them.

For bold text put an asterisk *

For strikethrough text put ~

For italics put underscore _

For monospace put """

7. Using different platforms


Users can use their WhatsApp from a wide variety of platforms. It is even possible to forward the entire archive of messages. To do this, users of both platforms need to use the “Export Chat” function after selecting the corresponding interlocutor.

Whatsapp is the most popular instant messenger in the world in 2017. After its release, a bunch of imitators appeared who are trying to repeat the success to this day, but to no avail. Now the program for messaging, sound and video is available on all mobile and desktop platforms. Let's figure out how to use Whatsapp and what you need for it.

Requirements for the messenger

You can install the application on your tablet, smartphone or Personal Computer. This article discusses examples using a mobile device. For installation and correct use you will need:

  • iOS or Android device.
  • Account in Play Market or AppStore (depending on the operating system).
  • Mobile number.
  • Internet connection.

Before using Whatsapp, you need to download and install it. Let's look at the instructions for Android and iOS.

Installation on Android includes the following steps:

  • Connect to the Internet and go to "My Market".
  • Enter the name of the application in Russian or English in the search bar.
  • Click the "Install" button and wait until the download completes.
  • Launch the application and create a personal account.

Now you need to go through the registration procedure. If your smartphone already has a SIM card, then when you first start the program, enter its number in the appropriate field. After this, wait for an SMS message with a confirmation code to arrive. Copy the code into the application. Ready! Now all that remains is to provide your personal information and execute initial settings, put an avatar and start chatting with friends!

Installing messenger on smartphone iPhone not much different:

  • Go to the AppStore from a phone connected to the Internet.
  • Use search to find the application.
  • Click the "Download" button.
  • Wait for the installation to complete, launch the messenger and register.

The process of creating an account is identical to registering on Android.

How to use Whatsapp: basic functions

Using the messenger you can:

  • Send written messages.
  • Exchange photos and videos.
  • Communicate via voice messages.
  • Create groups and chats in which a large number of friends participate.

All described actions are performed easily and simply. Let's look at how to use Whatsapp on iPhone and Android.

How to add as a friend?

Initially, the application synchronizes with your contacts on your smartphone. In order for a contact to appear in the application's friends list, you need to add it to your address book on your phone. All chats with contacts can be found on the main screen of the messenger.

Voice and text messages

To get started, open your contact list and tap once on the desired chat. At the bottom of the screen there is a field for typing text. Click on it once to bring up the keyboard. Type your text and click the send button.

Don't want to type out a written message? Then in the dialog box, click on the microphone icon and record a message with your voice. In addition, users can attach media files to messages. There is a paperclip icon next to the text entry field. Click on it and select one of the items: document, camera, gallery, audio, place or contact. To quickly add a photo from your camera, click on the corresponding icon.

How to use Whatsapp on a tablet?

On tablets under iOS control or "Android" you can also install the messenger. The functionality and interface of the program is no different from that installed in the application on a smartphone. To customize the messenger for yourself, click on the ellipsis icon in the upper corner of the screen, then context menu select "Settings". Here you can set your privacy settings and more.

WhatsApp installed on your smartphone, be it iPhone or Android, can do more than you think. Of course, the app won’t make coffee or iron a shirt, but it can make communication more convenient and efficient. The review will tell you about ten “secret” features in WhatsApp that everyone should know about.

WhatsApp messenger is used by more than a billion people around the world on both platforms - iOS and Android. The application allows you to exchange for free text messages, photos, videos, as well as make voice and video calls.

A review of ten hidden WhatsApp features will help you become a real messenger professional, surprise your friends and customize the application to your own needs.


How to transfer all WhatsApp data to another phone

If you bought yourself new iPhone or replaced the old device with a new one on Android, you can switch to new smartphone, saving the entire history of correspondence in WhatsApp.

If your phone supports microSD card, then just go to the messenger menu, where select “Settings” -> “Chats” -> “Chat backup”. Additionally, you can even check the “Add video” checkbox to save a copy of videos from chats.

After that, insert the microSD card into your new smartphone, install WhatsApp and click the "Restore" button when the application prompts you to do so. If the backup file is in the built-in memory, you can find it using Explorer in the /sdcard/WhatsApp/ folder and transfer the content manually.

An even more convenient way to save the entire history of correspondence on WhatsApp is offered by “cloud backup” - the ability to save a backup file to Google Drive, a free “cloud” from Google. This method works on both Android and iPhone.

How to hide last seen time on WhatsApp

If you look at any contact on WhatsApp, you will most likely see the line “was today at XX:XX” under the username. Using this line, you can understand when the contact last opened the application.

Don't want your interlocutor to know that you are logged into WhatsApp? Then go to the settings and indicate there that the last login time cannot be shown to anyone. To do this, go to “Settings” -> “Account” -> “Privacy”. You need the top line - “Time of visits” with the options to show “To everyone, only my contacts and no one”. However, in this case you will no longer be able to see the last visit time of other users.

In WhatsApp's privacy settings, you can also hide your profile photo, status, and turn off read receipts.

How to find out exactly when a message was read on WhatsApp

In WhatsApp, two small checkmarks next to it indicate that your interlocutor has read the message. To find out the exact time of delivery and reading of the message, make a long time on it there. A context menu will open at the top of the screen, where you should select the icon with “i”, and you will receive a mini-report about the message like “Delivered XX:XX, Read XX:XX”. On iPhone, you can tap and drag left to see the read time of a message.

How to protect WhatsApp with a password

iPhone owners, alas, can move on to the next point - it is impossible to set a password on WhatsApp for iOS without jailbreaking. On Android, everything is much simpler - there are a lot of third-party applications that will reliably protect all WhatsApp correspondence with a password or PIN code. We recommend Messenger and Chat Block, AppLock and Smart AppLock.

Some apps can even take photos using the front camera if someone tries to guess your WhatsApp PIN. On Windows Phone You can try WhatsApp Locker app. If you use something as exotic as BlackBerry, then look for the Lock for Whats Messenger application.

How to run WhatsApp on a computer/laptop

If your laptop/computer has Chrome browser, then follow the link to WhatsApp Web (https://web.whatsapp.com/) and follow the instructions that appear on the phone screen.

Make sure your smartphone is connected to the internet - ideally via Wi-Fi, as the web app will sync everything with your phone. Launch WhatsApp, find the line “WhatsApp Web” in the menu and scan the QR code from the browser on your computer.

You can now communicate on WhatsApp through a browser on your computer/laptop; all conversations and sent files will be sent both via the web and to your smartphone.

You won't be able to communicate in WhatsApp on iOS via a browser.

How to disable the display of photos sent via WhatsApp in the default photo viewing application (“Gallery”)

If you don't want all the pictures and photos you receive on WhatsApp to be available in the Gallery on Android or the Photos app on iOS, it's easy to disable this.

On iPhone – go to settings: “Privacy”, “Photos” and turn off WhatsApp.

On Android it’s a little more complicated - you need to use a file manager (explorer) like ES File Explorer or Ghost Commander go to the sdcard/WhatsApp/Media folder, then create a new file called .nomedia. That's it, no more photos from WhatsApp will be shown in the “Gallery”.

How to turn off group chat notifications on WhatsApp

Sometimes group chats create too much noise. Let’s say you don’t want to leave them, but listening to notifications after each message is also not an option. If you have an iPhone, then open a group chat, tap on the topic to open the group information, and then tap “Mute.”

In WhatsApp on Android, open a chat, tap the Menu button, and then tap Mute. You can specify the time for which notifications will be disabled, or turn them off completely.

How to recover deleted messages on WhatsApp

create whatsapp backups all messages every day at 4 am. The easiest way to recover deleted messages on WhatsApp is to delete and reinstall the application.

During the installation process, WhatsApp will ask if you want to restore your data from the backup. This way you can “return” correspondence for the last week. On Android, if you are interested in older data, you should use a file manager (explorer) like ES File Explorer and find the sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases folder, where the messenger backups are stored.

Rename the file you need to msgstore.db.crypt, and then go to your smartphone's settings, select applications, then WhatsApp and click "Clear data". Then launch the messenger - when the application offers to restore data, agree.

How to Create a Shortcut for WhatsApp Chats

This messenger feature only works on Android. If you have chats that you need to return to daily or even more often, you can save some time by placing a shortcut to the chat on your home screen.

To do this, press and hold on the chat that you often need, then select the “Add shortcut to chat” line in the context menu. The shortcut will appear on free space home screen. You can move it around the screen like any other shortcut, just by pressing it with your finger.

How to send a private message to multiple contacts on WhatsApp

You can save time by sending the same message to multiple contacts at once. However, it is not always necessary for recipients to know that someone else has received the same message.

Broadcasting in WhatsApp allows you to send the same message to several contacts, but for the recipient it will be private, like any other message between two users. On Android, go to the menu, then select “New Newsletter.” On the iPhone, go to mailing lists on the “Chats” screen, where then click on “New List”.

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