WhatsApp remains one of the world’s most used messaging platforms. Yet, many users barely scratch the surface of its hidden capabilities. Uncover the top WhatsApp hidden tricks of 2025—features that boost privacy, efficiency, and fun. From hidden chat codes to AI integrations, here’s your definitive guide.
1. Secret Chat Lock & Hidden Code Access
WhatsApp now offers a Chat Lock feature that hides sensitive conversations in a Locked Chats folder. You can even hide the folder entirely and only reveal it by entering a secret code in the search bar.
- How to enable: Open a chat → Tap the contact/group name → Select Chat Lock → set a biometric or PIN.
Once locked, the chat disappears from your main list and notifications won’t show message previews
2. Disappearing Messages & View-Once Media
For added privacy, WhatsApp supports disappearing messages that vanish after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
Additionally, you can send view‑once voice notes or media, which cannot be replayed or forwarded.
3. Multi‑Device Access & WhatsApp Web Privacy Loophole
WhatsApp now supports use on up to four devices simultaneously—even if your phone is offline.
Be aware, however, that unless you lock WhatsApp Web separately, someone with access to your laptop may read messages—even if the mobile app is locked.
4. Discreet Reading: Avoid Blue Ticks
Read a WhatsApp message without triggering the blue read receipts? Turn on airplane mode, open the chat and read the message, then close the app completely before turning off airplane mode. No blue ticks!
You can also disable read receipts entirely in Settings → Privacy—but remember, it also disables your ability to see others’ receipt
5. Pin & Star Messages—Quick Access Made Simple
- Pin Chats: Pin up to three chats at the top of your list for quick access to contacts or groups.
- Star Messages: Bookmark key messages like addresses, instructions, or reminders and find them later under Starred Message
6. Invisible Formatting: Bold, Italics, Monospace, Typewriter Font
Enhance message formatting with:
*bold*_italic_~strikethrough~monospace(triple backticks)—a typewriter‑style font for emphasis
7. Custom Notifications & Chat Shortcuts
Set custom notification tones for specific contacts or groups to identify them without looking.
On Android, you can even add a chat shortcut to your home screen, making any chat act like a mini-app.
8. Edit Sent Messages
Fixed a typo after sending? WhatsApp lets you edit messages within 15 minutes of sending. The edited label appears, but previous versions remain hidden.
9. Protect Calls & IP Address
WhatsApp has improved voice-call privacy—enabling IP Protection masks your IP address during calls.
Also, consider disabling link previews or automedia downloading from unknown contacts in privacy settings for added security.
10. AI Studio & Meta AI Chat Summaries
WhatsApp now includes AI Studio, letting users build and deploy custom bots directly in the app. These AI characters can answer questions, provide info, or chat with personality.
In certain regions (starting in the U.S.), Meta AI can generate summaries of unread chats, all processed privately on-device and not shared externally.
11. Monthly “WhatsApp Wrapped” Usage Report
A hidden feature called “Account Info report” compiles a regular summary of your WhatsApp account—number of messages sent, group info, account metadata, but not message contents due to encryption.
You can request this quarterly or enable monthly automatic report delivery from Settings → Account → Request Account In
12. Archive & Keep Hidden Chats
WhatsApp’s Archive Chat feature hides conversations from view without deleting them. By enabling Keep Chats Archived, new messages in archived chats won’t unarchive them.
And, muting notifications plus disabling badges makes group chats nearly invisible unless you intentionally open them.
13. Business Account Auto-Replies & Features
Even if you’re not a business, WhatsApp Business features may be useful:
- Quick away messages or auto‑replies when people message you.
- Creates a second WhatsApp profile on your device (useful if you want separation of chats).
14. Message Yourself: Personal Notepad
Want to save links, reminders, or images? Create a contact for your own number and chat with yourself. You can star messages here too—and access it across devices.
15. Voice Message – Play at 1.5× or 2× Speed
Save time listening to long voice notes by changing the playback speed—you can toggle between normal, 1.5×, or 2× speed within the voice message UI.
