In this article we will explain in a simple way how temporary messages on WhatsApp work and what they are for. This is a new feature that recalls Telegram’s temporary messages, another tool that has been using this type of functionality for some time. Just like for WhatsApp, this feature is new and solves those inconveniences that occur when a user wants to send a multimedia message, but it is not saved on the other person’s device. That’s just how temporary messages work.
These messages can only be viewed once, and once they are seen, they disappear. This means that the time cannot be set at will and that only one file can be sent per message. Also, there will be no warning message that the message has been deleted, but the message will be greyed out.
Another feature is that you can activate these messages in a chat permanently and everything you send is deleted within 7 days. In this way a chat will always stay clean every week. When this feature is active in a chat, however, you cannot choose which messages to make temporary.
Some of the limitations of this new feature are the inability to remove notifications for the same temporary messages. Also, replies or forwarded message cannot be deleted either. Plus, these messages remain in the backups. To activate and send a temporary message you can follow these steps:
How to send a single temporary message?
To send a temporary message, please note that you can only send media files. To do this you must follow these steps.
Enter a chat and click on a multimedia message. Then choose a photo and select the photo to send, click on “temporary message” and send.
How to activate the temporary message option on a chat?
To activate temporary messages in a chat, you just have to enter the chat, press on the contact and activate the option of temporary messages.
It is a system implemented on WhatsApp by Facebook that allows automatically sent messages to disappear after one week. The time when messages are deleted cannot be changed. Also, once the 7 days have passed, the messages will disappear without a trace.
It should be noted that this option can be turned on and off at any time. The recipients of such messages can save them by forwarding them to someone else or simply by capturing them with a screenshot.
Temporary messages can be used in different situations, for examples:
1) If you have a business and offer customer service through WhatsApp with tools like Callbell, temporary messages are used to automatically delete chats where the customer shares sensitive personal information.
2) When you have private chats with information you don’t want to share.
3) It can be used for group safety, as messages are deleted after 7 days.
4) Another option is to use temporary messages to keep your phone chat clean.
An excellent external service useful for this purpose for temporary messages is Callbell . You can use this tool when you need multi-agent WhatsApp for customer service or sales teams.
Frequent Questions
What are temporary messages?
It is a system implemented on WhatsApp by Facebook that allows automatically sent messages to disappear after one week. The time when messages are deleted cannot be changed. Also, once the 7 days have passed, the messages will disappear without a trace.
It should be noted that this option can be turned on and off at any time. The recipients of such messages can save them by forwarding them to someone else or simply by capturing them with a screenshot.
When can I use temporary messages?
Temporary messages can be used in different situations, for examples:
- If you have a business and offer customer service through WhatsApp with tools like Callbell, temporary messages are used to automatically delete chats where the customer shares sensitive personal information.
- When you have private chats with information you don’t want to share.
- It can be used for group safety, as messages are deleted after 7 days.
- Another option is to use temporary messages to keep your phone chat clean.
About the author: Hello! I am Alan and I am the marketing manager at Callbell, the first communication platform designed to help sales and support teams to collaborate and communicate with customers through direct messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram and Instagram Direct
