WhatsApp is now testing on iOS a disappearing-messages option that starts deletion only after a message is opened, extending an April Android test to both major mobile platforms.
The new “after reading” setting lets users choose post-read deletion windows of 5 minutes, 1 hour or 12 hours instead of relying only on fixed timers set before a message is seen.
Unread messages would still vanish after 24 hours, while sender and recipient timers can diverge—the sender’s copy can disappear first, and the recipient’s countdown begins only when the chat is opened.
Testing on both iOS and Android suggests the privacy feature may be nearing release, but WhatsApp has not given an official launch date.
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