WhatsApp Tricks You Probably Don’t Know About (But Should)

WhatsApp has over two billion users and most of them use maybe 30% of what the app can actually do. There’s a whole layer of features buried just below the surface that make messaging faster, more organized, and more useful. Here’s what you’re probably missing.

Format Your Text for Emphasis

WhatsApp supports basic text formatting that most users never use. Wrap text in asterisks for bold (*like this*), underscores for italic (_like this_), tildes for strikethrough (~like this~), and backticks for monospace font. These work in both personal and group chats and make long messages much easier to read.

Pin Important Messages in Any Chat

Long-press any message and tap the Pin icon (on Android) or Pin Message (on iPhone). You can pin up to three messages per chat. Pinned messages appear at the top of the conversation so you can find important information — addresses, meeting times, bank details — without scrolling.

Send Messages Without Saving a Number

You don’t need to save someone to your contacts to WhatsApp them. On Android, open a browser and type wa.me/[full phone number with country code] — for example, wa.me/14155552671. This opens a direct chat with that number. Incredibly useful for one-time conversations or communicating with businesses.

Use WhatsApp on Multiple Devices

WhatsApp’s Linked Devices feature lets you use the same account on up to four devices simultaneously — including tablets and computers — without your phone needing to stay connected. Go to Settings > Linked Devices and link your other devices via QR code. Your chats sync across all of them in real time.

Set Up Auto-Reply With Business Account

Switching to a WhatsApp Business account is free and gives you auto-reply features. You can set an Away Message that automatically responds when you’re unavailable, and a Greeting Message for new contacts. Useful even if you’re not running a business — great for vacations or busy periods.

Use WhatsApp’s Built-In Translation

Long-press any received message and you may see a Translate option (this feature is rolling out gradually). It translates messages in-line without needing to copy-paste into a separate translation app. If it’s not available yet, enable it in WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Translation.

Mark as Unread to Remind Yourself to Respond

Long-press a conversation in your chat list and select Mark as Unread. The chat gets a green dot to remind you to follow up. This is a simple but underused trick for managing your inbox without needing a separate reminder app.

Silent Messages With @Mentions in Groups

In group chats, if you only want to get notified when someone specifically mentions you, go to the group, tap the group name, and set Custom Notifications. Under Notifications, choose Mentions Only. This is essential if you’re in active group chats and the constant notification stream is driving you crazy.

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