Recently, some WhatsApp users have reported seeing a prompt from the app asking them to “message yourself.” This strange request has left many users confused and wondering why WhatsApp wants them to send a message to their own number.
What is the “message yourself” prompt?
The “message yourself” prompt shows up as a notification within the WhatsApp app. It will say something like “Message Yourself. Open a chat with yourself to save notes and important information.”
There is then an option to “Message Yourself” which will open a new chat window where you can send messages to your own phone number.
Why is WhatsApp asking users to message themselves?
WhatsApp has introduced this new “message yourself” feature as a way for users to easily save notes, reminders, and important information within the app. Here are some of the main reasons why WhatsApp is prompting users to message themselves:
- To save notes – The message yourself chat acts like a personal notepad within WhatsApp where users can jot down thoughts, notes, lists, and more.
- To set reminders – Users can send themselves timely reminders of tasks, events, and appointments.
- To bookmark content – Web links, videos, voice messages, and other content can be bookmarked by sending to your own chat.
- To organize information – Important info such as addresses, account numbers, product keys can be kept organized in one place.
The message yourself chat works like any other WhatsApp chat, except it’s with your own number. This allows you to take advantage of WhatsApp’s features to easily save all kinds of information in one place.
How does messaging yourself work?
Messaging yourself on WhatsApp is straightforward:
- Open the WhatsApp app
- Tap the “Message Yourself” prompt or tap the new chat icon and select your own number
- This will open a new chat window with your number at the top
- You can now send messages, media, links, documents etc. as you would in any other chat
- These will be delivered to your WhatsApp account like normal messages
- You can access these messages on your phone in the “Message Yourself” chat
The messages you send to yourself are end-to-end encrypted like all WhatsApp communication. They will not show up in your main chats list, only within the separate chat thread with your own number.
What are the benefits of messaging yourself on WhatsApp?
Here are some of the main benefits of using WhatsApp’s new “message yourself” feature:
- Easy to access notes – Your notes and info are always accessible right within WhatsApp instead of using separate note apps.
- Sync across devices – Messages sync seamlessly across your phone, tablet, and desktop.
- Better organization – Keep all your important info neatly organized in one place.
- Reminders – Set reminders for tasks, events, and more with timely alerts.
- Save anything – Great for bookmarking webpages, photos, voice memos, documents, etc.
- Privacy – Your messages are end-to-end encrypted.
How to use the message yourself feature effectively
To get the most out of WhatsApp’s new message yourself feature, here are some tips on using it effectively:
- Give your message yourself chat a name like “My Notes” or “Important Info” to easily find it.
- Categorize different types of messages using pinned messages or statuses.
- Use keywords in message titles so you can search contents easily.
- Save webpages as bookmarks by sharing link previews.
- Star especially important messages so they stand out.
- Set reminders for upcoming events, tasks, and more.
- Back up your chat history to retain access to your info.
Example uses for messaging yourself
Here are some examples of handy ways you can use WhatsApp’s message yourself feature:
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Shopping lists | Make itemized grocery, to-do, and wish lists for easy access on the go. |
| Travel info | Save booking references, boarding passes, accommodations details for upcoming trips. |
| Recipes | Note down recipe instructions, ingredients lists, and cooking tips to reference later. |
| Work notes | Jot down meeting highlights, project ideas, and client notes as needed. |
Important tips when messaging yourself
When using WhatsApp’s message yourself feature, keep these important tips in mind:
- Be selective about what information you save – don’t use it as a dumping ground for everything.
- Delete messages after you no longer need them to keep your chat decluttered.
- Turn on chat backup to avoid losing your information if you switch phones.
- You can still delete individual messages from the backup if needed.
- Avoid sharing sensitive info to yourself as your chat is still accessible if someone else uses your phone.
Is messaging yourself available for everyone?
The ability to message yourself was rolled out to all WhatsApp users worldwide in October 2022.
So everyone on the latest version of WhatsApp should now have access to message themselves from within the app.
If you aren’t seeing the option yet, try force quitting and reopening WhatsApp to make the new feature show up.
Responses to the “message yourself” prompt
User response to WhatsApp’s new message yourself prompt has been mixed. Here are some common reactions people have had:
- Confusion – Many users don’t understand why WhatsApp is suggesting they message themselves.
- Skepticism – Some are skeptical about the purpose of the feature and haven’t tried it.
- Helpful – Those who have used it find the feature handy for taking notes, reminders, etc.
- Intriguing – Others are intrigued by the possibilities of self-messaging and want to try it out.
- Spam concerns – A few worry it could be used by scammers to send spam messages.
- Feature overload – Some think WhatsApp already has too many features and this feels unnecessary.
But overall, user response seems to be turning more positive as people realize the benefits of messaging themselves once they give it a try.
Message yourself FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about WhatsApp’s new self-messaging feature:
Does messaging yourself use up extra data?
No, there are no extra data charges for messaging yourself. The messages exchange within WhatsApp’s servers like normal chats.
Can I message myself from a different phone?
Yes, you can message yourself from a second device or WhatsApp Web as long as you use the same account.
Will my messages sync across devices?
Messages sent to yourself will sync across your linked devices like other WhatsApp chats.
Can I send media files to myself?
You can send photos, voice messages, videos, documents and any other files to yourself on WhatsApp.
Is there a limit on how many messages I can send myself?
There is no message limit. You have unlimited storage for self-messages as part of WhatsApp’s free allowance.
Conclusion
Messaging yourself on WhatsApp is a handy new feature that makes it easy to store notes, reminders, files, and other important information securely within the app.
While some users were initially confused by the self-messaging prompt, those who have actually tried it out have found it to be quite useful. Sending messages to your own number provides an easy way to organize your thoughts and access them anytime across all your devices.
As more people realize the benefits, messaging yourself is likely to become a regularly used WhatsApp feature. Though like any tool, it should be used mindfully – only saving relevant information and deleting old messages to keep your chat clutter-free. Used effectively, self-messaging can streamline your note-taking and make sure important details are always right at your fingertips within WhatsApp.