WhatsApp is a popular messaging platform, with an incredible 1.5 billion monthly active users.
The app frequently improves the service with updates – the latest of which is Private Reply.
As the name suggests, WhatsApp Private Reply allows users to privately reply to messages received in a group chat.
Users could previously only write a reply that would be read by all, or privately message the person they wanted to speak to.
Starting such a private message can strip the context of the group’s larger discussion since it would take place away from the group chat.
In instances where users are part of a chat group where only the administrator can send out messages, non-admins can now reply privately to the admin, without the message being seen by the rest of the group.
The Facebook-owned company announced the new feature with this statement: “When you tap reply privately, WhatsApp will automatically open the private chat with the contact.”
The feature is being rolled out as part of the Android version 2.18.335 update, though it is not available for iOS and web versions yet.
Users have, however, been urged not to update to the latest beta version yet, as there is a bug where the app will crash if users delete media that is in the chat.
WhatsApp users should instead wait for the 2.18.336/337 update to be released.
How to send messages on WhatsApp Private Reply?
Private Reply is easy to use – simply tap the message of the person you wish to chat with.
Next, press the menu that appears on the top right corner.
This reveals the Private Reply option.
The selected message will then open privately in the chat window in the form of a reply thread.
The latest version of the Android beta app is required to use this feature.
Playing consecutive voice messages on iOS:
Version 2.18.100 for iOS introduced the ability to automatically play consecutive voice messages sequentially, meanings removing the need to continually pressing play.
October’s update also brought support for the larger 6.5-inch display of the iPhone XS Max.
This update allows the app to make best use of the iPhone XS’s large display and lets users read more messages.
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Delete for Everyone tweaks:
The Delete for Everyone feature has also received an upgrade.
WhatsApp updated the “Recipient limit” to restrict deletion of a message if the recipient didn’t receive its revoke request within 13 hours, eight minutes, and 16 seconds regardless of the reason.
This means if you try to delete a message that you sent to your contact by using the Delete for Everyone feature, it can only be deleted if the recipient receives the revoke request within 13 hours, eight minutes, and 16 seconds.
Users can delete a WhatsApp message for everyone within the previous limit of over one hour, though the recipient needs to receive the revoke request by opening the chat containing the message within the newly designed limit.
This tweak was a server-side update.
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) video feature for Android:
WhatsApp finally launched a PiP video feature for Android users in October, several months after introducing it on iOS.
It allowing users to watch Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube videos in a small window within the messaging app itself.
This means users do not now need to visit video platforms view a video sent by a contact.
With PiP support, Android users will be able to tap on a YouTube link and open up the YouTube video in the app itself.
It will allow the user to view the video and continue to navigate around WhatsApp, in different chats, simultaneously.
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