WhatsApp Messages to Disappear Automatically After Being Read on iPhone

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that allows messages on iPhone devices to disappear automatically after being read by the recipient. The update, found in WhatsApp Beta for iOS version 26.19.10.72 released via TestFlight, introduces an ‘After reading’ option in the disappearing messages settings. Previously, WhatsApp’s disappearing messages used a fixed timer from when the message was sent. With the new ‘After reading’ feature, the deletion timer starts only after the recipient views the message. Users can choose deletion intervals of 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 12 hours post-reading. If unread, messages will auto-delete after 24 hours. For example, if a user sends a message at 10am with the ‘delete 5 minutes after reading’ setting, the message will automatically disappear from the sender’s device five minutes after sending. On the recipient’s device, the message remains visible until opened; once read, a five-minute countdown begins before deletion. The feature can be applied selectively to individual chats, allowing users to enhance privacy for specific conversations without affecting all messages. Currently available to a subset of iPhone beta users, the rollout is expected to expand in the coming weeks, according to WABetaInfo.