COVER FEATURE
WhatsApp STOP USING IT WRONG!
There’s so much more to WhatsApp than chats, calls and emojis. Robert Irvine reveals how to use the brilliant messaging app to its full potential
With more than 3.3 billion users, WhatsApp is by far the most popular messaging app in the world. It’s also one of the most downloaded apps of any type, vying with Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for the top spot.
Unlike those three, and despite sharing the same owner – Meta – with the first two, WhatsApp has a deservedly good reputation. That’s because it has stuck to its original purpose as a communication tool, doesn’t collect your data to target you with ads and protects your messages with end-to-end encryption.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Edit your photos and videos before you share them
• Scan paper documents and convert them into PDFs
• Turn lengthy voice messages into readable text transcripts
• Make free voice and video calls in your web browser
• Lock and hide private chats so only you can see them
• Switch between two WhatsApp accounts on your phone
WhatsApp’s smart design and useful features make keeping in touch with friends and family incredibly easy. It’s no wonder so many of us have ditched SMS and now ‘WhatsApp’ each other rather than text.
But even if you use WhatsApp every day, you’re probably not aware of its full range of tools. The deceptively simple app is packed with extra options that enhance your messages and calls in practical and fun ways.
Here, we reveal WhatsApp’s best hidden features in its mobile apps, online version WhatsApp Web (www. snipca.com/59971) and Desktop program for Windows and macOS (www.snipca.com/59970). And we don’t mean features like location-sharing, disappearing messages or its Updates tab, which most users are now familiar with. We focus on new and advanced options you won’t want to ignore.
ENHANCE YOUR VOICE & VIDEO CALLS
Make voice and video calls in your browser
As we reported in Issue 742 (page 6), you can now make free voice and video calls through WhatsApp Web. This effectively turns the web-based version into a replacement for Zoom or Google Meet (or the now defunct Skype).
Previously, you could use WhatsApp Desktop for voice and video calls on your PC, but this required downloading and installing the program. WhatsApp Web works directly in your browser so is much more convenient.
To use the online version, visit https:// web.whatsapp.com and scan the QR code with your phone’s camera. Tap the link to open WhatsApp, press Continue then scan the QR code again. Alternatively, log into WhatsApp Web using your phone number.
To make a call, click the ‘Voice call’ or ‘Video call’ button in the top-right corner of a chat, and allow WhatsApp Web to access your microphone and/or webcam. You can conduct group voice calls with up to 32 people, with no time limit, and enjoy the benefit of your PC’s larger screen.
Click the Calls button in WhatsApp Web’s left-hand sidebar ( 1 in our screenshot below left) to view your call history and start calls from there. This includes to phone numbers you haven’t saved as contacts 2 .
Leave ‘voicemail’ messages for missed calls
Last December, WhatsApp introduced the ability to record a voice or video message when someone misses your call. This is similar to leaving a voicemail for a standard call, but you may not have noticed the feature.
When a person doesn’t answer your voice or video call, you’ll now see a ‘Record voice message’ (see screenshot below) or ‘Record video message’ option. Tap this to record your message, play it back to ensure you’re happy with it, then press Send.
The other person will receive a notification that you’ve left them a message. They can then listen to or watch it before deciding whether to call you back.
Schedule your voice and video calls
WhatsApp now lets you schedule voice and video calls for specific dates and times. This is particularly useful for group chats, including business meetings, remote family discussions and catch-ups with old friends, ensuring everyone is present from the start.
To use the feature, tap the Calls tab in WhatsApp then the Schedule button – or press the green Call button and choose ‘Schedule call’. Select the date, start and end times of your call (you can remove the latter for less formal chats), and Voice or Video for ‘Call type’.
You can optionally provide a description for the call and require participants to get your approval before they can join. Tap ‘Reminder’ to remind participants when the call starts, from 15 minutes before to one day (see screenshot below). Press the Send button, choose the contacts you want to include, then press Send again.