Let’s look at a few important points that should help.
* The first thing you must know about WhatsApp's 'Disappearing Messages' feature is that it’s available for individual as well as group chats. In a one-to-one chat, either person will have the option of enabling or disabling the disappearing messages. In group chats, the group admins will be able to turn on the feature.
* Once the disappearing messages feature is enabled, any new messages sent in the individual or group chat will disappear after 7 days. “This setting won’t affect messages you previously sent or received in the chat," WhatsApp said on its support page. According to officials, the seven-day feature is being used to help conversations feel lighter and more private.
* Bear in mind, though, that disappearing messages will also wipe out photos and videos after seven days. So, if you don’t want to let go of your WhatsApp photos and videos, it would be better to activate auto-download. Go to WhatsApp > tap More options > Settings > Data and storage usage > Media auto-download.
* Another thing you can do to save your messages is to create a backup before a message disappears. Then, the disappearing message will be included in the backup. Go to WhatsApp > tap More options > Settings > Chats > Chat backup > BACK UP. "Disappearing messages will be deleted when a user restores from a backup," WhatsApp explained in their blog post.
* Thankfully, the Disappearing Messages feature will be available on all WhatsApp-supported devices including Android, iOS, and Linux-based KaiOS devices, as well as WhatsApp Web and Desktop platforms.
Open the WhatsApp chat on Android or iOS and tap on the contact’s name. Select the ‘Disappearing messages’ setting and press ‘Select On’.
You can disable the setting any time you want by following the same steps mentioned above and tapping on ‘Select Off’.
