deleted when you leave chat ‘

WhatsApp gets a new function that allows you to automatically delete photos immediately after closing a conversation. That’s how it works.

WhatsApp discovered disappearing photos

WABetaInfo discovered the function that is still being tested. The new photo option is intended for photos that you want to show briefly and that you would rather not have lying around in the app for a longer period of time. Now you have to manually delete these photos quickly after sending, but this will change.

It works as follows: as soon as you send a photo via WhatsApp, you can indicate that it should be deleted when you close the chat. As soon as you go back to the overview with other WhatsApp conversations, the photo will be deleted immediately.

This removal function is therefore an addition to the one that is already included in the app. This allows you to give messages and photos an expiration date, so that they are automatically deleted after seven days. This new function is intended for the photos that have a shelf life of less than seven days.

Protected against export, not against screenshots

As an extra security, it is also not possible to export these photos from WhatsApp. A recipient cannot save the photo from the app to his or her photo roll. The only way to keep these temporary photos permanently is to take a screenshot of your screen. WhatsApp hasn’t added a notification for this yet, but it may come later.

It is not yet clear when the function will actually be added. WhatsApp is testing new functions more often, which will then be rolled out in a future update.

In recent weeks there has been a lot of talk about WhatsApp and its new privacy conditions. Do you want to know what is going on? We update you in the video below.