WhatsApp’s disappearing messages feature allows users to send messages that automatically disappear after 7 days. Once enabled, new messages sent in the chat will disappear after 7 days. This prevents messages from sticking around forever and cluttering up your chats.
However, just because a message disappears in WhatsApp doesn’t mean it’s gone forever. There are still a few ways the contents of disappearing messages can be captured via screenshots.
Taking a screenshot before the message disappears
The most straightforward way to capture a disappearing WhatsApp message is to simply take a screenshot of it before the 7-day deletion period is up. As long as you screenshot the message within those 7 days, you’ll have a permanent record of it.
Here are the steps to screenshot a disappearing message on WhatsApp before it’s deleted:
- Open the WhatsApp chat with the disappearing message.
- On an iPhone, simultaneously press the Home button and the Lock button. On Android, simultaneously press the Volume Down and Power buttons.
- This will capture a screenshot of your entire screen, including the WhatsApp message.
- The screenshot will be saved to your camera roll/gallery.
As long as you follow these steps before the 7-day window is up, you’ll have a screenshot of the disappearing message.
Using third-party apps to record your screen
In addition to standard screenshots, there are various third-party apps you can use to record your iPhone or Android screen while using WhatsApp. This allows you to capture video of disappearing messages.
Some examples of screen recording apps include:
- AZ Screen Recorder (Android)
- DU Recorder (Android)
- QuickTime Player (iPhone)
To use one of these apps to record disappearing WhatsApp messages:
- Download the screen recording app on your device.
- Open the app and start a recording.
- Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat with the disappearing message.
- Let the screen recorder capture you viewing the message.
- Stop the recording and save the video file after you’ve viewed the message.
This will let you capture video evidence of the disappearing message that you can reference later.
Using WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp Web allows you to view and use your WhatsApp messages on a desktop browser. This can also be a way to screenshot disappearing messages.
Here’s how to use WhatsApp Web to capture screenshots:
- Open WhatsApp Web on your computer browser and scan the QR code to link it to your mobile device.
- On your phone, open the chat with the disappearing message.
- The chat will also open on WhatsApp Web with the message visible.
- Use your computer to take a screenshot of the message before it disappears.
The benefit of using WhatsApp Web is that you can use your computer’s screenshot tools instead of relying on mobile screenshot capabilities.
Saving media from disappearing messages
In addition to text, disappearing messages can also contain photos, videos, and other media. You may want to save this media even though the message disappears.
To save media from a disappearing message:
- When you receive a photo/video in a disappearing message, tap and hold it to view it full screen.
- Take a screenshot of the media to capture it (follow the mobile screenshot steps above).
- You can also hold down on the media and select the “Forward” option to send it to another chat or your own number to save it.
As long as you act quickly to screenshot or forward the media, you’ll have a permanent record of photos, videos, etc. sent via disappearing messages.
Using disappearing message notifications
Even if you don’t capture a screenshot, the notifications generated by disappearing messages can serve as a partial record of their contents.
For example, your message notifications may preview parts of the message text or show the sender/group info. While not as complete as a screenshot, they provide some indication of what the message contained.
To use notifications to partially capture disappearing messages:
- When you receive a disappearing message notification, swipe down to expand the notification shade.
- The notification may preview portions of the message or other key details.
- You can take a screenshot of the notifications shade to save this information.
The notification screenshots may not capture full message contents, but can serve as helpful context about disappeared messages.
Recovering messages from WhatsApp backups
WhatsApp automatically backs up your message history to Google Drive or iCloud. So even after a disappearing message deletes, it may still exist in your backup.
You can view and recover disappearing messages from your backups in a few ways:
- Restore your WhatsApp backup to a new device – This will load the backup with the deleted messages onto a new phone.
- Use third-party backup viewer tools – Some tools like WhatsApp Viewer let you browse your cloud backups to view message history including disappeared messages.
- Local iTunes or Android backups – Connect your phone to a computer and access local WhatsApp backups that may contain deleted messages.
Keep in mind the message may no longer exist in your newest backup, but could be present in older backups. So you may need to restore an older backup to access disappeared messages.
Using WhatsApp message recovery
WhatsApp recently introduced a new feature that lets you restore accidentally deleted messages, including disappearing messages, from the last 7 days.
To recover deleted disappearing messages using this tool:
- In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Message Recovery.
- You’ll see a list of recently deleted chats and messages.
- Tap any message you want to recover.
- A copy of the message will be restored to your chat history.
This provides a way to retrieve disappearing messages for up to 7 days after they are deleted. Useful if you forgot to screenshot the message earlier.
Using third-party WhatsApp apps
Some third-party apps provide ways to read WhatsApp chat histories outside of the official WhatsApp interface. These can potentially be used to view disappearing messages.
For example, tools like WhatsAppX or GBWhatsApp may let you export or view backups containing messages that have since disappeared. However, using third-party WhatsApp apps often violates WhatsApp’s terms of service.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp disappearing messages are designed to be temporary, there are still several clever workarounds to capture, record, or recover these ephemeral messages. The most reliable methods involve screenshotting, recording your screen, or backing up your chats before the message expires.
However, you have to act quick to capture a disappearing message before the 7-day deletion period. After that time, recovering deleted disappearing messages becomes much more difficult and uncertain.
So if you really want to save a copy of an ephemeral WhatsApp message, your best bet is to use screenshot tools, backup your chats regularly, and enable WhatsApp’s new built-in message recovery.
| Method | How To | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots | Use mobile screenshot tools before message expires | Very reliable if done in time |
| Screen recording | Use third-party screen capture apps to record message | Reliable if done in time |
| WhatsApp Web | View and screenshot messages on desktop browser | Reliable when linked in time |
| Save media | Forward or screenshot media before it disappears | Reliable for saving photos, videos, etc. |
| Notifications | Screenshot message notifications before opening chat | Partial message details only |
| Backups | Restore backed up message history | Unreliable after too long |
| Message recovery | Use WhatsApp’s built-in recovery tool | Recover deleted messages within 7 days |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does taking a screenshot automatically save the disappearing message?
No, taking a screenshot only captures that temporary image of the message. To permanently save the message contents you’ll need to capture it via screenshot, screen recording, or message backup before it disappears.
Can you recover disappearing messages after 7 days?
It becomes very difficult to recover disappearing messages after the 7-day expiration time. Your only options are very old device backups or unsanctioned third-party apps. WhatsApp does not officially support recovering expired disappearing messages.
Do disappearing messages get deleted from WhatsApp’s servers?
No, WhatsApp likely still retains copies of disappearing messages on their servers. But this encrypted data is inaccessible to users after expiration. The messages are only “disappeared” from your app interface and backups.
Can law enforcement recover expired disappearing messages?
Possibly, through court orders law enforcement may be able to work with WhatsApp to access otherwise inaccessible message data stored on servers. But users have no direct way to retrieve deleted disappearing messages from WhatsApp systems.
Do disappearing messages get deleted from the recipient’s phone?
Yes, disappearing messages delete themselves from both the sender’s and recipient’s devices/backups after 7 days. Both parties will lose access to the message content after expiration.
Can you tell if someone screenshots your disappearing message?
Unfortunately no, WhatsApp does not currently notify users if someone takes a screenshot of a disappearing message. The sender has no indication if the recipient screenshots the message before it deletes.
Can you get around the 7 day time limit on disappearing messages?
There is no built-in way to extend the timer beyond 7 days. Even using message backup or recovery tools, the recovered message content still disappears after 7 days. Only unsanctioned modded apps allow changing this limit.
Do disappearing messages work in WhatsApp group chats?
Yes, enabling disappearing messages in a group chat will make new messages delete after 7 days for all participants. But any group member can still screenshot messages before they disappear.
Key Takeaways
- Take screenshots of messages before the 7-day expiry.
- Use screen recording apps to capture video of the messages.
- Frequently back up your chats to retain copies of disappearing messages.
- Enable WhatsApp’s built-in message recovery option.
- Act quickly to recover messages before the 7-day limit.