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WITH MORE THAN 600 million people using it, WhatsApp is up there as one of the most popular instant messaging apps out there so it’s likely yourself and a few friends have it.
If you’re just using it for chats and nothing else, then you’re missing out on some useful features. Here are a few you should be aware of.
Note: the tips provided are for the Android version of WhatsApp. The same features exist on other versions like iPhone and Windows Phone but with slight variations.
Change enter to send
If you’re more likely to write short messages to people, then it might be handier to turn the enter button into send. To do this, go into settings, chat settings and it will be the first option presented to you.
Turn off auto-downloads
Getting picture messages is handy, but when you’re on a limited data plan, it can be the difference between staying under your limit or exceeding it.
To change this, go to settings and select media auto-download. Here you can decide what files are allowed to download automatically when you’re on 3G/4G, on WiFi and when you’re roaming.
Add chat shortcut
If you want a quick way of accessing one-on-one or group conversations, you can create an app shortcut to your home screen, allowing you to jump into the conversation immediately.
When you’re at the chats screen, hold down on the chat in question and you will bring up a pop-up menu with the option.
Alternatively, you can select the conversation, select settings and tap ‘more.’ Doing this should present you with the option to add a shortcut.
Email conversation as text file
Who knows when this might come in handy, but if you want to keep a conversation (or images) on your computer, you have the option of emailing it as a text file. On the chat screen, hold down on the conversation in question and the option will be there.
You have the choice of including media in your mail, which is useful if there are video or audio clips you want to transfer to your computer.
Create a broadcast
Sometimes you will want to get a message out there, but the idea of creating a group chat might not be the most useful idea if you’re messaging a large group. To send a once-off message to said group, go into chats and hit settings. The option to broadcast a message should be found under groups.
Only those people who have your number in their address book will be able to see your broadcast message.
Search conversation
Should you need to find something that was definitely mentioned in a conversation, but don’t want to trawl through the conversation, hit settings, then search and type in word(s) you’re looking for. Easy.
Archive all conversations
Instead of saving, archiving all conversations hides everything from your chat feed, allowing you to access any of them if needed. If you want to do this, go into settings, then chat settings and scroll to the bottom.
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Whatsapp and Viber saves me a small fortune.
Its news to me!!
Only 9 red thumbs !!
If you use WhatsApp you’ll know about all of these features. Slow news day?
Meh
I use WhatsApp and I didn’t know any of them
I’ve given up on viber as it doesn’t work as effectively. Photos have trouble sending on it, videos have to be quite limited in size, and it’s mostly useless for call quality. Skype for calls and whatsapp for messages is the only way.
Seems like Ireland is the only place that Viber is still the top messaging app. Hardly anyone’s using it abroad. Kinda like Bebo years ago, now people laugh when they remember Bebo!
Viber works very effectively for me. Far fewer problems than skype which I’ve given up on
Whatsapp is number 1 in Ireland. Viber is very popular in England too. I use it for international calls only
I have lifetime membership to What’s app, I don’t have to pay and i’ve no idea why. Can anyone enlighten me?
Everybody gets it.
Doesn’t everybody have to pay a euro per year?
If you signed up before they introduced the 1 euro per year, then you already have it free for life. Yey!!
Thank you, I wasn’t aware. Even though it’s cheap at €1 a year it feels great not having to pay it
I didn’t !
Threema anyone?
have your say