WhatsApp is expanding testing of its View-Once disappearing messages feature to iOS, following a similar trial on its Android app last month. This information was reported by WABetaInfo, which identified the feature in beta version 26.19.10.72 of WhatsApp for iOS.
The View-Once feature allows users to enable a countdown timer through the “After reading” option in the Default message timer menu. On iOS, senders can choose a timer of 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours for messages to disappear after being read. If a message is left unread, it will automatically vanish after 24 hours.
A message sent at 10 AM with a 5-minute timer will disappear from the sender’s device at 10:05 AM. If the recipient reads the message at 10:10 AM, it will then disappear from their device at 10:15 AM. If the message is not read, it will be automatically deleted from the recipient’s device at 10 AM the following day.
WABetaInfo noted that the feature is currently accessible to some beta users of WhatsApp on iOS. However, it remains uncertain when WhatsApp will roll out this feature to all users on both Android and iOS platforms.
