WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, but many users only use its basic features—sending messages, making calls, sharing photos, and posting Status updates.

However, WhatsApp has several useful features that can make messaging more private, organized, and convenient. Some of these features are easy to miss because they are hidden inside settings or only appear in specific situations.

In this guide, we’ll explore 15 useful WhatsApp features you may not know about and explain how to use them.

1. Send Messages Without Saving a Phone Number

You don’t always need to save someone’s phone number in your contacts before starting a WhatsApp chat.

If you have the correct international phone number, you can use WhatsApp’s click-to-chat format to start a conversation without adding the number to your address book.

This can be particularly useful when you need to contact a delivery person, customer, business, or someone you don’t plan to save permanently.

Tip: Make sure the phone number includes the correct country code.

2. Edit Sent Messages

Made a typing mistake after sending a message?

WhatsApp allows users to edit sent messages for a limited period after sending them.

How to edit a WhatsApp message:

1. Open the WhatsApp conversation.
2. Press and hold the message you want to change.
3. Select Edit.
4. Correct the text.
5. Tap the checkmark to save the edited message.

Edited messages are marked as “edited”, so the recipient can see that the original message was changed.

This is especially useful when you accidentally make a spelling mistake or send incomplete information.

3. Pin Important Messages in a Chat

If someone sends you an important address, payment detail, instruction, or event information, you don’t have to scroll through the entire conversation to find it later.

WhatsApp lets you pin messages inside chats.

To pin a message:

• Press and hold the message.
• Select the menu option for pinning the message.
• Choose how long you want it pinned, when prompted.

Pinned messages can make important information much easier to find.

4. Lock Individual Chats

WhatsApp offers a Chat Lock feature that adds an extra layer of privacy to selected conversations.

When you lock a chat, WhatsApp moves it into a protected area that requires your device authentication, such as a fingerprint, Face ID, or passcode, depending on your device.

Why use Chat Lock?

It can be useful for conversations containing:

• Personal information
• Private photos
• Sensitive discussions
• Financial information
• Other content you don’t want immediately visible

The feature is especially helpful if other people occasionally use your phone.

5. Use Disappearing Messages

Want messages to disappear automatically after a certain amount of time?

WhatsApp’s Disappearing Messages feature can automatically delete new messages from a conversation after a selected duration.

Depending on the options available to your account, you can choose a disappearing-message duration such as 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.

How to enable it:

1. Open a WhatsApp chat.
2. Tap the contact or group name.
3. Select Disappearing messages.
4. Choose your preferred duration.

Keep in mind that disappearing messages don’t guarantee that information cannot be saved. Someone could still take a screenshot, copy content, or photograph the screen.

6. Silence Calls From Unknown Numbers

If you frequently receive calls from unknown numbers, WhatsApp has a feature that can help reduce unwanted interruptions.

The Silence Unknown Callers option prevents calls from unknown numbers from ringing on your phone.

The calls can still appear in your call list, but they won’t interrupt you with a normal incoming-call notification.

To enable it:

Go to:

WhatsApp → Settings → Privacy → Calls → Silence Unknown Callers

This is a useful privacy feature for people who receive frequent spam or unknown calls.

7. Hide Your Last Seen and Online Status

WhatsApp allows you to control who can see information about when you were last active and whether you’re currently online.

You can adjust these settings through:

Settings → Privacy → Last seen and online

Depending on your selected options, you can limit visibility to everyone, your contacts, selected contacts, or nobody.

This can be useful if you want more control over your online privacy.

8. Send Photos and Videos in HD Quality

By default, WhatsApp may compress photos and videos when you send them.

However, WhatsApp provides an HD media quality option that allows you to send supported photos and videos with higher quality.

How to use HD quality:

1. Open a WhatsApp chat.
2. Select a photo or video.
3. Look for the HD option at the top of the media preview.
4. Select HD quality.
5. Send the media.

Remember that HD doesn’t necessarily mean the original file is being sent without compression. If you need to preserve the original file, sending it as a document may be more appropriate.

9. Share Your Live Location

WhatsApp can share your location with an individual or group.

The Live Location feature is different from simply sending your current location because it can update your position for a selected period.

This can be useful when:

• Meeting someone at a busy location
• Traveling
• Letting family members know where you are
• Coordinating with friends
• Finding someone during an event

To share your live location:

1. Open a WhatsApp conversation.
2. Tap the attachment button.
3. Select Location.
4. Choose Share live location.
5. Select the duration.
6. Send it.

Only share your location with people you trust.

10. Create Polls in WhatsApp Chats

Need to make a quick decision in a group?

Instead of asking everyone to reply individually, you can create a poll.

For example, you can ask:

“Where should we go for dinner?”

And provide options such as:

• Restaurant A
• Restaurant B
• Restaurant C
• Order online

Polls can be useful for planning trips, meetings, events, group purchases, or casual decisions.

11. Use WhatsApp on Multiple Devices

WhatsApp doesn’t have to be limited to a single phone.

The Linked Devices feature allows you to connect your WhatsApp account to supported additional devices.

For example, you can use WhatsApp on a computer while your phone is not actively being used.

To link a device:

1. Open WhatsApp on your phone.
2. Go to Settings or the WhatsApp menu.
3. Select Linked Devices.
4. Choose Link a Device.
5. Follow the instructions shown on screen.

Always check your linked devices regularly and remove any device you no longer recognize or use.

12. Search Messages by Date

Trying to find an old message from a particular day can be frustrating if the conversation contains thousands of messages.

WhatsApp supports searching within conversations, and on supported versions you can use a calendar/date-based search to jump to messages from a particular date.

This can be especially useful when looking for:

• Old addresses
• Travel details
• Payment information
• Event discussions
• Important conversations

Instead of endlessly scrolling, use the search functionality to narrow down the conversation.

13. Format Text in Your Messages

WhatsApp supports several text-formatting options that can make messages easier to understand.

You can use formatting such as:

• Bold
• Italic
• Strikethrough
• Monospace
• Bulleted lists
• Numbered lists
• Code-style formatting

For example, bold text can be useful when you want to highlight an important deadline or instruction.

Text formatting is particularly helpful when sending longer messages or instructions in groups.

14. Use WhatsApp Status Privacy Controls

Not every Status update needs to be visible to everyone in your contact list.

WhatsApp provides privacy controls that allow you to choose who can see your Status updates.

Depending on the available options, you can share a Status with:

• Your contacts
• Selected contacts
• A restricted audience

This gives you more control over personal updates, work-related posts, or content intended for a smaller group of people.

Before posting something private, check your Status audience.

15. Use End-to-End Encrypted Backups

WhatsApp conversations are protected with end-to-end encryption during chats, but your backups are a separate consideration.

WhatsApp provides an option for end-to-end encrypted backups, which can add additional protection to your stored chat backup.

To check the option:

Go to:

WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat backup → End-to-end encrypted backup

If you enable it, you’ll need to follow WhatsApp’s instructions for creating the required password or encryption key.

Important: Keep your password or encryption key somewhere safe. Losing the required recovery information can prevent you from accessing the encrypted backup.

Bonus: Keep WhatsApp Updated

Many useful WhatsApp features are introduced or improved through app updates.

If you don’t see a feature mentioned in this article, it doesn’t necessarily mean your WhatsApp account doesn’t support it. Features can vary depending on your:

• Phone
• Operating system
• WhatsApp version
• Region
• Account
• Feature rollout

For the best experience, keep WhatsApp updated through your device’s official app store.

Final Thoughts

WhatsApp has evolved far beyond a simple messaging application. Features such as Chat Lock, disappearing messages, HD media, live location, polls, message editing, linked devices, privacy controls, and encrypted backups can make the app much more useful.

Many of these features are easy to overlook because they’re located inside menus and privacy settings.

If you use WhatsApp regularly, spending a few minutes exploring its settings can help you discover features that improve privacy, communication, organization, and convenience.

Which WhatsApp feature did you find most useful? Let us know in the comments.