WhatsApp: our six tips for using it better on a daily basis

As the messaging app WhatsApp becomes more and more popular globally, discover six tips for better everyday use.

1. Lock a chat

WhatsApp allows you to block access to certain specific chats. Once this feature is activated, WhatsApp uses the biometric security system – fingerprint or facial recognition – integrated into the smartphone. Here’s how to enable this option:

1. Open the relevant WhatsApp chat.
2. Access the latter’s settings by touching the contact name in the conversation window.
3. Enable the Chat Lock option.

2. Use WhatsApp as a secure notebook

By misuse, WhatsApp can be used as a notepad, the idea being to send a message to yourself:

1. Create a new WhatsApp conversation.
2. Select your own name from the WhatsApp contacts list.
3. Send the message.

We can then lock this new discussion in order to obtain a secure notebook.

Sent messages will appear in the WhatsApp interface on the smartphone and will also be available on all connected devices such as the internet browser with WhatsApp Web, the Windows or macOS application with WhatsApp Desktop, etc.

3. Send higher quality images and videos

WhatsApp allows the user to compress the quality of the transferred media to a lesser extent. Although compression is still applied, the HD resolution remains respected when choosing this parameter. For more information on activating this feature, we invite you to read our article on the subject: WhatsApp: how to send a photo without loss of quality?

4. Disable Read Message feature

Receipt receipts are enabled by default in WhatsApp. In other words, your interlocutor is kept informed of the moment when you have read their message by visualizing the color of the two checkmarks next to it. If you are one of the individuals who does not respond immediately to conversations, here is the procedure to follow to deactivate this somewhat intrusive feature, let’s face it:

1. Access the WhatsApp Settings menus.
2. Touch the Privacy menu.
3. Disable the Read receipts line.

Please note that by deactivating read receipts, you will no longer be able to receive acknowledgments of receipt of messages that you send to your contacts.

In the same vein, for greater peace of mind, it is recommended to deactivate the display of the presence indicator on WhatsApp. This aims to show your interlocutor your online presence in real time if applicable, or to display the time of your last connection to the application. Here are the settings to make:

1. Open the WhatsApp Settings menu.
2. Touch the Privacy line.
3. Click on Online Presence.
4. For Who can see my last online presence, we enter Nobody. For Who can see when I’m online, select Same as last online.

5. Use WhatsApp on multiple phones

Recently, the same WhatsApp account can be used on several smartphones. This functionality is intended to be particularly useful for professionals, particularly in the context of existing customer service through this application. In this way, several collaborators can be connected to the same account in order to process the requests of the interlocutors. Our advice for using the same WhatsApp account on several devices is available in our article: WhatsApp: use an account on several smartphones at the same time.

6. Limit mobile data usage

Although the use of WhatsApp is increasingly widespread and is often much more convenient than SMS / MMS for sending media, data consumption is sometimes restricted. When traveling abroad, for example, it is recommended to make some adjustments before departure. This tip is also valid for users who have a reduced amount of mobile data. Let’s see how to limit the amount of data consumed by WhatsApp:

1. Open WhatsApp Settings.
2. Touch the Storage & Data menu.
3. Enable the Use less data for calls feature. This option allows you to compress the quality of the communication stream, consuming less mobile data.
4. In the Automatic media download section, check that no media will be downloaded automatically using mobile data or while roaming.