What’s Up With WhatsApp? Four Features You Never Knew Could Be Customized

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WhatsApp, a messenger tool that Facebook spent a lot of money on to acquire, offers a completely straightforward platform. Since it’s so simple to use, many don’t realize just customizable it is. While the app is similar for everyone, it actually offers various ways you can customize different features. Here are four useful ways to customize WhatsApp that you can take advantage of.

Hide When You’re Online

For most WhatsApp users, a feature is automatically enabled that allows others to see when you’re online or when you were last online. If you want this feature deactivated, you can hide when you’re online by turning off the “last seen” time. This can be done by going to the Account page, followed by the Privacy section. When you’re accessing it from an iPhone, the Settings tab will need to be used.

While this may seem like a great feature, there are some downfalls to it. When others can’t see when you’re online, it also means you can’t see when they are online either. If you want to see when your friends are available to talk, you’ll have to leave your “last seen” feature turned on too.

Another way to customize is to hide when you’ve read someone’s message. Again, this will make it impossible for you to tell when others have read yours, so not everyone will want to change the settings on this one.

Block Downloads and Save Space

The WhatsApp messenger automatically downloads any files you receive. It can quickly fill your camera with items you only wanted to see once, if it all. This feature can be disabled so you no longer have your camera and folders filled with unwanted files. There is an option to block downloads, which can be found under the Settings tab. You’ll need to go to the Chat Settings and uncheck the box that says “Save Incoming Media.”

Forward Favorite Messages

When you receive an interesting message from someone, it doesn’t have to be kept to yourself. Your favorite images and messages can be forwarded to another user within the app. There is a forward button that can be pressed once the chat message has been selected. Now if only there was a way to atomically save a friend’s status for WhatsApp to a favorite list of some kind so you can easily swap your status updates from ones that you like.

Hide your chats from prying eyes

One popular customizing trick is to lock your chats. Whether friends or family members snoop through your apps regularly, or you simply want to keep things private, an app can be installed that will lock your WhatsApp chats. Only those who know the pass-code will be able to gain access. Messenger and Chat Lock is the name of the app, which can be found in the app store. This app will even work for Facebook.

These are just few ways that you can customize your WhatsApp experience. Once you’re done and ready to go, choose a few of your favorite WhatsApp qoutes to use have fun with it.

Even though WhatsApp seems generic and easy to use, tailoring things to your own individual preferences and style should be done in every aspect of life, including the apps you use. With customizable features, now you can change your WhatsApp to be more of what you’re looking for in a messenger.

Veronica Davis