WhatsApp lets you set messages to disappear after a timer so chats do not pile up forever. You pick 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. The timer applies to new messages in that chat after you turn it on. Older messages stay until you delete them yourself.
This is different from View once media (photos or videos that open a single time). Disappearing messages cover text and media in the chat once the chat timer is on. For View once steps, see our guide on sending disappearing photos and videos in WhatsApp. Related: how to read deleted WhatsApp messages.
Steps below match WhatsApp Help Center guidance for iPhone and Android. Labels can shift slightly by app version, but the paths are the same.
Turn on disappearing messages in one chat
Open the chat
Open WhatsApp and go to the individual or group chat where you want the timer.
Open chat info
Tap the contact name or group subject at the top of the chat.
Open Disappearing messages
Tap Disappearing messages. If WhatsApp shows an intro screen, tap Continue.
Pick a timer
Select 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days, then confirm. New messages in that chat will start using the timer.
Set a default timer for new chats
You can make every new one-to-one chat start with disappearing messages already on.
- iPhone: WhatsApp Settings (or your profile photo) → Privacy → Default message timer → choose 24 hours, 7 days, 90 days, or Off.
- Android: WhatsApp → Settings → Privacy → Default message timer → choose 24 hours, 7 days, 90 days, or Off.
On supported versions, WhatsApp may also let you apply that default to some existing chats when you change it. Follow the on-screen Apply step if it appears.
What disappearing messages do and do not do
- Messages disappear for everyone in the chat after the timer, including messages you send to yourself.
- Turning the feature on does not erase history that was already in the chat.
- People can still screenshot, export, or keep messages before they vanish. Treat this as chat hygiene, not a security vault.
- Anyone in the chat can usually change the disappearing messages setting. Watch for the system notice when someone adjusts the timer.
Turn disappearing messages off
Open the same chat info → Disappearing messages → choose Off (or set Default message timer to Off for new chats). Messages already scheduled to disappear keep their original timer.
Primary source: WhatsApp Help: About disappearing messages and How to turn disappearing messages on or off.
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