WhatsApp’s Self-Destructing ‘Delete Messages’ Feature Spotted in Latest Beta

WhatsApp isactively workingon a dark theme for its messaging app, but there’s another exciting feature that looks almost ready for rollout. It’s the new self-destructing message feature that has been under development for quite some time. The latest WhatsApp beta update gives us a closer look at this feature and how it will work in the future.

Earlier known as Disappearing Messages, this feature allows users toset a self-destruct timer to messagesin a conversation. Once enabled, all the messages sent and received in a chat window are automatically deleted after the specified time interval. We hadfirst reported on the featurea couple of months ago when it was barebones and development had just kicked-off.

Now, well-known tipster WABetaInfo hascome acrossamore robust and working “Delete Messages” featurein a recent WhatsApp beta (version #2.19.348) update. Yes, WhatsApp has renamed this feature and it can be found sitting under Contact Info orGroup Settingsfor individual users or groups respectively. Only admins can enable the feature and tweak the time duration in group conversations.

As you can see in the screenshots above, tapping the Delete Messages option will present you with the option to pick the time duration for which the messages should be accessible within a conversation. You can choose to delete WhatsApp messages within 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or keep them for a year, which is a healthy set of options.

This feature is resemblant toTelegram’s “Secret Chat” feature, which has been live for a couple of years now. I know, Delete Messages does look like it’s ready for release but it’s still under development. So, don’t expect this feature to make an appearance in WhatsApp beta builds just yet. There’s currently no official word on when it will go live (for both beta or stable users), but we can expect self-destructing messages and the dark mode to debut soon – that too simultaneously.

Anmol

Getting my start with technology journalism back in 2016, I have been working in the industry for over 7 years. Currently, as the Editor of Beebom, I’m leading the coverage on the website. While my expertise lies in Android, Windows, and the apps world, find me reading manga, watching anime, and playing Apex in my free time.

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