Hi Guys,
Today we are discussing some tips and tricks for using WhatsApp. We’ve lined up some interesting tricks and tweaks that will improve your user experience.
What is WhatsApp?
I’m summarizing this in as fewer lines as possible, just for the sake of newbies.
WhatsApp is an instant messaging app for smartphones. In January 2015, WhatsApp was the most globally popular messaging app with more than 600 million active users. In September 2015 the user base has grown up to 900 million.
WhatsApp Inc., based in Mountain View, California, was acquired by Facebook on February 19, 2014, for approximately US$16 billion.
For most of us, WhatsApp has become the default messaging app, because everyone’s on it, and it’s on nearly every platform. The app has made itself indispensable by adding a browser version and voice calling to its platform.
Read more about some alternatives to WhatsApp – vpnmentor.com/blog/best-secure-alternatives-whatsapp
Tip & Tricks
The following tips and tricks might be available on more platforms, but for the sake of convenience of writing, I’m giving the steps of Android devices and iPhones only. Anyone using a different platform can ask for steps in the comment section below.
-
Sharing Locations and Contacts
Along with images, videos and music, users can share locations. This might be their current location or any other interesting place around you. Users can also share contacts.
Tap on the Send location in the attachment pane to send your current location or explore interesting hotspots around you. The map is a mash-up of FourSquare check-ins of places around you. You’ll find everything from local tech start-ups to restaurants, marked as blue dots. You can share contacts by choosing Share contact.
-
Backup Messages on Cloud
Users can back up their messages and media in the cloud. In case of changing the device, or reinstalling WhatsApp, you’ll no longer lose your messages.
Android users can make backups on Google Drive by Menu > Settings > Chats and calls > Chat backup > Google Drive.
iPhone users can make backups in iCloud by Settings > Chats and Calls > Chat Backup > Back Up Now.
-
Checking Read Status
Users can check the “read status” of individual messages as well as group messages.
Android users can select their message and press the i button above to check the “read status”.
iPhone users can press and hold on to their messages and then tap on Info to check the “read status”.
-
Send Public Messages Privately
This is known as Broadcasting Message. This feature is equivalent to BCCing an e-mail. That is your message will be sent to a group, but each group member will receive the message personally; in a personal chat.
Android users can broadcast a message from Menu < New broadcast. Add group members. Then send your message.
iPhone users can broadcast a message from Chats < Broadcast Lists < New list. Add group members, then send you a message.
-
WhatsApp Status
It’s not a trick not an important feature but a cool one though. Many people seem to ignore this feature.
One can also have a status of a max. of 138 characters along with their WhatsApp profile picture.
You can set a message (like an inspirational message) that others can read even when you are offline, or you can select from the default options present in the app.
Android users can change their status from Menu > Status.
iPhone users can change their status from Settings > Profile > Status.
-
Saving Mobile Data
One can save a lot of mobile data by disabling automatic media download.
Android users can disable automatic downloading from Menu > Settings > Chats and calls > Media auto-download > While using mobile data. Remove all the ticks.
iPhone users can disable automatic downloading from Setting > Chat and Calls > Media Auto-Download. Select Wi-Fi for Images, Audio and Videos as well.
Another method to save data is by lowering data usage used in a WhatsApp call.
Android user can do so from Menu > Settings > Chats and calls > Low data usage. Select it.
iPhone users can do so from Settings > Chats and Calls > Low Data Usage. Switch it on.
-
WhatsApp Call
Yes, WhatsApp didn’t just make SMSing obsolete but is trying to make cellular Calling obsolete as well.
Both Android and iPhone users can call a contact by tapping the phone button on the side of their profile picture.
-
WhatsApp Web
If you are tired of touchscreens or just want to continue your chats from a laptop or PC. You can do so by WhatsApp Web. On your laptop/PC browser, go to web.whatsapp.com.
Android device users go to Menu > WhatsApp Web. Follow the steps on your phone.
(Only iOS 8.1+) iPhone users head to Settings > WhatsApp Web. Follow the on-screen steps.
Read more about another app, called Telegram – techglobule.com/telegram-messenger
-
WhatsApp Walkie Talkie
That’s not an official feature but a trick. If you are tired of typing. You can just use it as a walkie-talkie. That is hold the little mic while you speak, and leave it to send. To cancel the voice message, you can slide to the left while holding the mic.
Both Android and iPhone users will find the mic over the keyboard on the chat screen.
-
Tell us something we missed in the comments and we will include it here.
WhatsApp sucks. It doesn’t have a true web based interface, and still needs phone to chat via pc. Better to use Telegram, its true cross platform.
It’s for newbies. Buy yeah, for a true cross platform experience, Telegram is way more better.
Teach me How to start WhatsApp Without Any No. Please. (edited for spamming features of apps)
That’s the matter for a future post. If you want help, you can mail us at siddhant(at)techglobule(dot)com.