WhatsApp is rolling out a new Status feature to all users. Instead of the text-only status that lets people know whether you're busy or available to chat, the new Status feature uses photos, text, emojis and sketches to show what you're doing. If that sounds familiar, it could be because it appears to be inspired by Snapchat.
And unlike Snapchat and Instagram, WhatsApp can protect your Status updates with end-to-end encryption.
How to use status Status allows you to share text, photo, video and GIF updates that disappear after 24 hours. In order to send and receive status updates to and from your contacts, you and your contacts must have each other's phone numbers saved in your phones’ address books. To view or reply to a status.
Here's what you need to know about the new feature.
When will I get the Status feature?
When your account gets access to Status, you won't have to download or install an app update from the App Store or Play Store -- it'll just show up.
You'll know if you have access to Status on iOS when the Contacts tab gets replaced with a camera icon (see photo above), and the far-left tab reads 'Status.' Android users will see a new Camera icon to the left of the Chats tab, next to a new Status tab.
Who can see my Status?
WhatsApp includes privacy settings, giving you complete control over who sees your Status. By default, only your contacts can view your Status, but the privacy settings let you change that.
With the Status tab selected on an iPhone, tap on Privacy. Android users, tap the menu button > Status Privacy.
You are given three options:
- My Contacts: All of your WhatsApp contacts can view your Status.
- My Contacts Except...: Select the people you don't want to show your Status to. This still shares your Status with the rest of your Contact list.
- Only Share With..: Select only with the contacts you want to show your Status to.
If you change your privacy settings after uploading a Status, keep in mind the new settings will only impact future updates.
Viewing your friends' Statuses is a lot like Snapchat
If you already use Snapchat Stories or Instagram Stories, then you'll feel right at home with Status. Here are the basics:
- To view a Status uploaded by your friend, open the Status tab. A list of friends who've shared a Status will fill in.
- Touch the screen to pause a Status, giving you more time to view it, tap to skip through a Status, or swipe left to go to the next person.
- Swipe up on a status to reply to the the Status you are currently viewing.
...And so is updating your Status
WhatsApp Status includes all the familiar features of Snapchat and Instagram Stories -- stickers, text captions, drawings and more. Here's how to update your Status:
- To add a photo or video to your WhatsApp Status, open the app and tap the camera icon. Take a photo or video, or pick one from your camera roll.
- You can draw, write and place emojis on the photo. There's also an option to add a caption that will be shown on the bottom of the photo or video as your contacts watch it.
- Finally, tap the paper airplane icon. You can either send your Status directly to a friend, as a photo or video within a conversation thread, or you can tap My Status at the top of the list to update your Status.
Videos can go longer than 10 seconds
Instead of limiting your video status updates to just 10 seconds (like Snapchat), videos you record and share as a Status can be as long as 45 seconds.
And you can upload GIFs!
In the year 2017, supporting animated images, or GIFs, in an app is a requirement. As such, WhatsApp Status will accept GIFs you've saved to your camera roll or photos app. Select a GIF, trim it down if you need to, and share just as you would a regular, boring, photo or video.
Your Status will remain active for 24 hours, after which it disappears.
Sadly, there doesn't appear to be a way to save a Status to your phone. Whatever you capture and create in WhatsApp is limited to WhatsApp.
Find out who's viewing your Status
A view counter is placed at the bottom of your screen, showing you how many people have watched or looked at your status. You can swipe up on the screen to view a list of contact names who have viewed your Status.
You can get away with screenshots
Unlike Snapchat, WhatsApp does not alert you when a contact takes a screenshot of your Status. In other words, be conscious of exactly what you are sharing to your Status, just because it disappears from your Status after 24 hours doesn't mean no one saved a copy.
Check out our complete guide to Instagram Stories.
Snapchat's Spectacles are now available for purchase online. Here's our review.
This is your complete guide to let you use the WhatsApp Status feature on your iPhone.
Facebook-owned WhatsApp has got an all-new feature “Status” that is set to make the popular messaging app more exciting. It allows you to share disappearing photos, videos, GIFs with your friends, which automatically get expired after 24 hours.
In terms of functionality, the WhatsApp Status feature is quite similar to Instagram and Snapchat Stories. You can find out who has seen your status and when. While viewing the status update of any friend, you get the option to send a quick reply as well. And, if you no longer want to view the status of any contact, you can mute it. Let’s find out more! (Also read: how to send disappearing photos and videos in Instagram on iPhone)
How to Use WhatsApp Status Feature on iPhone
Whatsapp My Status Free
Send Disappearing Photos and Videos in WhatsApp on iPhone
Step #1. First off, you need to update WhatsApp to the latest version. (Go to App Store → Updates). Then, launch the messaging app on your iPhone.
Step #2. Tap on the Status tab at the bottom.
Step #3. Now, you need to tap on the status icon at the top right corner of the screen.
Step #4. Next, capture a nice selfie, photo or a video.
You can also select pics from your library. To do so, tap on the picker button at the bottom left corner of the screen and choose the pic you want to use.
Step #5. Next up, you can add emoji, text and draw on it → Finally, send the photo to your friend.
Change Status Privacy in WhatsApp for iPhone
By default, your status is shared with all of your contacts. However, you have the option to share your status only with selected contacts.
Step #1. Open WhatsApp on your iPhone → Status tab.
Step #2. Next, you need to tap on the Privacy at the top left corner of the screen.
Step #3. Now, you have three options—
- My Contacts: To share your status with all of your contacts.
- My Contacts Except: To share status with all the contacts except some people.
- Only Share With: To let you share the status with only some people.
If you don’t want to share your status with some people, choose My Contacts Except and select the people from your contacts. Then, tap on Done to confirm.
If you want to share your status with only some people, tap on the Only Share With and choose the name of the people from the contacts. Tap on Done to confirm.
Note: The changes to your privacy status won’t apply to the status you have already shared. Hence, I would recommend you to first set the privacy setting and then share the photo. You won’t be able to know who has viewed your status if you have disabled Read Receipts (Settings → Account → Privacy → Read Receipts)
Manually Delete Status Update in WhatsApp on iPhone
If you don’t want to keep any status update for any personal reason, you can delete it easily.
Step #1. Open WhatsApp → Tap on Status tab.
Step #2. Next, tap on the three dots next to My Status.
Step #3. Then, you need to tap your status update.
Step #4. Now, tap on the arrow at the bottom center.
Step #5. Tap on the trash button and then tap on Delete to confirm.
Find Out the Views of your Status in WhatsApp on iPhone
Step #1. Open WhatsApp → Tap on Status.
Step #2. Tap on the three dots next to My Status.
Step #3. Now, you will see the number of views of your status.
To know who has viewed your status, you need to tap on your status and then tap on the arrow button at the bottom. Now, you should see who has viewed your status and when.
View and Reply to Someone Status Update in WhatsApp on iPhone
Step #1. Open WhatsApp → Status.
Step #2. Tap on the status update of any contact.
Step #3. While viewing the status, tap on Reply at the bottom, write anything you want and then send it.
Mute a Status Update of a Particular Contact in WhatsApp on iPhone
If you no longer want to view the status of any contact, you can mute it. Once muted, it won’t appear at the top of the status list.
Step #1. Open WhatsApp → Tap on Status.
Step #2. Next, swipe left from right on the status update on any contact you want to mute. And then select Mute.
All the muted contacts are listed under Muted section.
Unmute Status Update of Any Contact in WhatsApp on iPhone
Later, if you change your mind and want to unmute the status update of any contact, you can quickly unmute it.
Step #1. Open WhatsApp → Tap on Status.
Step #2. Swipe left from right on the status update of the contact listed under Muted section and then select Unmute.
The Bottom Line
Certainly, the Status feature has made WhatsApp more exciting. It’s really cool to let everyone know what you are up to. The best thing about it is that the shared pic is automatically disappeared after 24 hours.
Recently, WhatsApp has got a number of interesting features such as the option to:
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