WhatsApp has been testing the View-Once disappearing messages feature on its Android app since last month and is now extending this trial to iOS users as well.
This information was shared by WABetaInfo, who identified the View-Once disappearing messages functionality in the beta version 26.19.10.72 of WhatsApp for iOS.
The feature can be activated through the "After reading" option in the Default message timer > Message timer menu. On iOS, the sender can set a countdown timer of 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours; following this period, the sent messages will automatically vanish if viewed by the recipient. If the message goes unread, it will disappear automatically after 24 hours.
On the sender's device, the message will be deleted automatically after the selected duration. For instance, if a message is sent at 10 AM with a 5-minute countdown set, it will vanish from the sender’s device at 10:05 AM. If the recipient reads the message at 10:10 AM, it will then disappear from their device at 10:15 AM. If the message remains unread, it will automatically be deleted from their device at 10 AM the following day.
WABetaInfo reports that this feature is currently available to select beta users on iOS, but it remains uncertain when WhatsApp will publicly launch it for both Android and iOS users.
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