Disappearing messages have become a popular feature on many messaging apps and social media platforms. This allows users to send messages that automatically delete after a set period of time, such as 24 hours or 7 days. While this can be useful for sharing temporary information, some users may want to disable disappearing messages for conversations where they want to keep a permanent record.
Why Would You Want to Disable Disappearing Messages?
There are several reasons you may want to turn off disappearing messages:
- You want to keep a record of important conversations – With disappearing messages, there is no history saved. Disabling this allows you to look back on conversations later.
- Accountability – When everything is automatically deleted, there is less accountability. Disabling disappearing messages means the record stays.
- References – Conversations can contain useful information you want to refer back to. With disappearing messages, this information is lost.
- Miscommunications – Deleting messages automatically means you can’t go back to clarify any misunderstandings.
- Legal/compliance reasons – Some industries require records to be kept of communications. Disappearing messages do not allow for this.
How to Disable Disappearing Messages in Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger has an option to turn disappearing messages on or off for each conversation:
- Open the Messenger app and select the conversation you want to modify.
- Tap on the contact’s name at the top to open the conversation settings.
- Look for the ‘Disappearing messages’ setting and tap on it.
- Select ‘Off’ to disable disappearing messages.
Once you disable disappearing messages, all future messages in that conversation will remain in your message history until you delete them manually. Existing disappearing messages that have been sent will still disappear as scheduled.
How to Turn Off Disappearing Messages in WhatsApp
WhatsApp also gives you the ability to turn disappearing messages on or off for each individual chat:
- Open the WhatsApp app and select the chat you want to modify.
- Tap on the contact’s name at the top to open chat settings.
- Tap on ‘Disappearing messages’.
- Select ‘Off’ to turn off disappearing messages.
When you turn off disappearing messages in WhatsApp, messages will stop disappearing by default for that chat. Any messages already set to disappear will still do so. To disable disappearing messages for new chats by default, go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Default message timer and select ‘Off’.
How to Disable Vanishing Messages in Telegram
Telegram has an option to enable a ‘self-destruct timer’ for messages. To turn this off:
- Open your Telegram app and select the chat.
- Tap on the contact’s name at the top to open info.
- Tap on ‘Self-destruct timer’.
- Select ‘Off’ to turn off message deletion.
Your messages will now remain in the Telegram chat history rather than automatically deleting. You can also disable the self-destruct timer by default for all new chats in Telegram’s general settings.
How to Turn Off Disappearing Messages on Instagram
Instagram has a ‘vanish mode’ that makes messages disappear after they are seen. To disable it:
- Open Instagram and go to your Direct messages.
- Tap the message thread you want to modify.
- Tap the contact’s name at the top.
- Toggle the switch off next to ‘Disappearing messages’.
This will prevent new messages in that conversation from disappearing. However, any messages already sent with vanish mode will still automatically delete after being seen.
How to Disable Disappearing Snaps on Snapchat
By default, Snaps on Snapchat disappear after being viewed. To save Snaps:
- When sending or viewing a Snap, tap the → icon.
- Select ‘Keep in Chat’ to prevent that Snap from disappearing.
You can also enable Chat History in your Snapchat settings to automatically save all Snaps by default. Just keep in mind the other person will be notified if you screenshot their Snaps.
How to Turn Off Disappearing Images in Signal
Signal has a feature where you can set images to disappear after being viewed once. To disable this for a conversation:
- Open a Signal thread and tap the contact’s name.
- Tap ‘Disappearing messages’.
- Select ‘Off’ to prevent images from automatically disappearing.
Images you send in that Signal chat will now be permanently saved instead of deleting after being viewed once. This setting only applies to images, not text messages.
How to Stop Messages From Disappearing in iMessage
You can send messages in iMessage that disappear after a set time. To turn this off:
- Open an iMessage conversation.
- Tap the contact’s name at the top.
- Tap ‘Disappearing Messages’.
- Select ‘Off’ to stop messages from disappearing.
iMessage will no longer automatically delete messages after you view them. Existing disappearing messages will still be deleted as originally configured.
Third-Party App Considerations
Some third-party messaging apps like Wickr and Confide also use disappearing messages that self-destruct after a set time. These apps are designed to prevent message history from being saved, so there is no setting to disable disappearing messages.
If you need to keep a record of conversations from Confide, Wickr, or other privacy-focused apps, consider taking screenshots or copying/pasting messages into another app before they disappear.
The Takeaway on Disabling Disappearing Messages
Disappearing message settings go by different names on different platforms, but on most major messaging apps you can turn off auto-deletion of messages:
- Facebook Messenger – Turn off ‘Disappearing messages’
- WhatsApp – Disable the ‘Disappearing messages’ feature
- Telegram – Turn off the ‘Self-destruct timer’
- Instagram – Toggle off ‘Disappearing messages’
- Snapchat – Enable ‘Chat History’ in Settings
- Signal – Turn off ‘Disappearing messages’
- iMessage – Select ‘Off’ for ‘Disappearing Messages’
Carefully check the settings in any messaging app you use to determine if there is an option to save chat history. This will prevent important conversations or information from being automatically deleted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recover disappeared messages?
Unfortunately, once a disappearing message is gone, it is generally unable to be recovered. The content is deleted from the sender’s device and the recipient’s device. Some third-party mobile data recovery services claim to be able to retrieve disappeared content from backups or forensic analysis, but success is not guaranteed.
Do blocked contacts see disappearing messages?
No, if you block a contact they will not be able to see any disappearing messages you send after blocking them. They also won’t be notified that they have been blocked.
Can you tell if someone screenshots your disappearing message?
On most platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, it does not notify the sender if a recipient screenshots a disappearing message before it deletes. However, Snapchat does notify the sender if you screenshot their Snap.
Do disappearing messages take up storage space?
Disappearing messages are deleted automatically, so they do not take up long-term storage space on devices. However, encrypted messaging apps like Signal warn the messages may briefly occupy storage space until deletion.
Can police recover disappeared messages?
Most messaging platforms use end-to-end encryption, meaning even police cannot access the content of disappeared messages. However, law enforcement agencies have some access to metadata like who messaged whom and when.
Conclusion
Disappearing messages offer a sense of privacy by automatically deleting conversations after a set time. However, this mechanic is not right for every situation. Thankfully, most major messaging platforms provide options to disable disappearing messages if you need to keep a record of conversations.
Carefully check the settings in each messaging app you use to determine how to turn off auto-deletion and prevent important messages from vanishing before you’re ready. While disappearing messages have advantages, choosing when to use them is key.