WhatsApp tests auto delete messages after they are read

WhatsApp is testing a new privacy feature that will automatically delete messages after they have been read by the recipient, according to reports. The feature, currently in beta testing for select users on both Android and iOS, introduces an "After reading" timer designed to give users more precise control over sensitive conversations.

The update addresses a limitation of the platform's existing disappearing messages tool, where a countdown begins the moment a message is sent. This could result in messages expiring before the recipient ever opens them. The new system ensures a message remains available until it is read, at which point a user-selected timer begins. Once that timer elapses, the message is automatically removed from the chat.

Users will reportedly be able to choose from three durations for the post-read timer: five minutes, one hour, or twelve hours. If a message goes unopened, it will still be deleted after 24 hours. The feature is optional and off by default, allowing users to enable it on a per-chat basis without affecting existing conversations.

The rollout is being conducted gradually, with some beta testers on iOS gaining access through version 26.19.10.72. A...