People who use the Meta-owned WhatsApp app can message, call, and video chat with anyone on any device for free. In many ways, it's more powerful than Google Messages, even though the Google messaging app is pre-installed on most budget Android phones.

The number of features available on WhatsApp can overwhelm new users, and veteran users may miss useful tools. Here are 14 tips and tricks to help you use the messaging app, whether you're just starting or have used it for years.

Video call up to 32 of your closest friends

You can video chat with up to 32 friends or family members. When you want to chat with 32 people at the same time, set up a Call Link. You can also start a video call from your existing groups in WhatsApp:

1. Launch WhatsApp.
2. Tap the WhatsApp group chat you want to video call.
3. If your group has less than 32 members, tap the Video Call icon (television camera) in the upper-right corner.
4. If more than 32 people are in your group, tap the Group Call icon (phone with a plus symbol), select the people to include, and tap the Video call icon.
5. Any invitee can join at any time as long as the video call is active. Add additional people by swiping up from the bottom of the call screen.

Alternatively, manually create a group by doing the following:

1. Open WhatsApp and select a chat with one of the people who will be on the video call.
2. Tap the Video Call icon in the upper-right corner of the app screen.
3. After starting a video call, tap the open icon and then tap Add participant.
4. Find the contacts you want to add to the video call and tap Add.

Create a group poll

Creating a poll is handy for asking your group chat a question without filling the conversation with hard-to-track replies. Each poll can have 12 potential answers, allowing you to ask about anything from movie night options to a favorite cat name.

1. Tap the paperclip icon in the message box.
2. Tap Poll.
3. Enter a question and at least two options.

   

   

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4. Tap Send in the lower-right corner of the screen.
5. Tap View votes on an existing poll to see a breakdown of votes.

   

   

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Share your live or current location with a WhatsApp contact

Google Maps is integrated into WhatsApp, so you can share your live and current location without leaving the messaging app. You can also share the location of a place with this method.

1. Tap the paperclip icon in the message box.
2. Tap Location.
3. Tap one of the location options.

   

   

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4. Choose how long to share your live location. The options are 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours.
5. Tap Send.

   

   

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Delete photos and videos from a chat in bulk

Sharing videos and photos can fill up your WhatsApp storage quickly. To clear them out, back up your media to Google Photos and then follow these steps to delete them in bulk from WhatsApp.

1. Tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Storage and data.

   

   

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4. Tap Manage storage.
5. Tap one of your contacts under the Chats heading. Contacts are sorted in order of storage used.

   

   

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6. Tap Select all or tap individual photos and videos.
7. Tap Delete in the upper-right corner of your screen.

   

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Find out your data usage

If you're not on an unlimited data plan, be mindful of how much data you use. While your smartphone can show your usage across all apps, WhatsApp gives you a detailed breakdown of where your data usage comes from.

1. Tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Storage and data.

   

   

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4. Tap Network usage.

   

   

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Bold, italicize, strikethrough, or monospace text

There are two ways to bold, italicize, strikethrough, or monospace text in WhatsApp.

Method 1

1. Highlight a message.
2. Tap the appropriate button to apply the format.

   

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Method 2

Add a symbol to either side of a message in HTML style. The format for this is as follows:

• Bold: Add an asterisk (*)
• Italics: Add an underscore (_)
• Strikethrough: Add a tilde (~)
• Monospace: Add three grave accents (```)

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See who reads your group message

WhatsApp indicates if someone has read your message by displaying two blue checkmarks next to it. This symbol only appears in a group chat after everyone has read it. Check who has read and who hasn't by following these steps:

1. Tap and hold a message.
2. Tap the i button at the top of your screen.
3. You'll see who has read your message and when they read it.

   

   

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Change your backup settings

Backing up your WhatsApp messages prevents your conversations from becoming lost in the void. Even if you set a backup when creating your WhatsApp account, check your backup settings regularly.

1. Tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Chats.

   

   

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4. Scroll down and tap Chat backup.
5. Tap Back up to create a backup immediately.

   

   

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6. Tap Back up to Google Drive to change your backup schedule.

   

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You'll find other useful settings, like end-to-end backup encryption and backups over a data connection and Wi-Fi.

Change who can see your last seen and online status

WhatsApp's Last seen feature lets your contacts see when you were last online. You can deactivate this for some or all of your contacts. The option also hides your online status from prying eyes.

1. Tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Account.

   

   

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4. Tap Privacy.
5. Tap Last seen and online.

   

   

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6. Tap one of the radio buttons to choose who can see your Last seen and online status.

   

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Customize chat wallpaper

WhatsApp's features aren't all boring things like backups and privacy settings. Adding a custom wallpaper can spruce up your conversations in seconds. This wallpaper doesn't show for your recipient.

1. In a conversation, tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Wallpaper.
3. Tap a category and select a wallpaper.

   

   

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4. Preview your wallpaper, then tap Set Wallpaper.
5. Apply it across multiple chats or only the current one.

   

   

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Use WhatsApp on the desktop or web

WhatsApp isn't only a mobile app. You can use a web app to type messages from your desktop computer. It has all the mobile app's functionality and a downloadable desktop app for Mac and Windows. Your messages sync between devices immediately, so you can switch between your desktop and mobile device without delay.

1. On the mobile app, tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Linked devices.
3. Tap Link A Device.

   

   

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4. Go to web.whatsapp.com.

   

5. Scan the QR code on the web app.

   

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Lock a private chat on WhatsApp

You can lock a private chat on WhatsApp and keep your personal messages hidden from curious eyes. WhatsApp hides your conversation from the main menu and requires a biometric authentication to access it.

1. Launch WhatsApp and open a chat thread you want to hide.
2. Tap the contact name at the top.
3. Turn on Chat lock. Confirm your decision.

   

   

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4. Move back to the WhatsApp Chats menu. Swipe down from the top to check Archived chats. Swipe down again to see Locked chats. Tap it.
5. Unlock it with your fingerprint and check your private chats.

   

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Send high-quality photos and videos on WhatsApp

By default, WhatsApp compresses your photos and videos before sending them in a personal chat or a group. You can send photos and videos as files to retain the original quality, but it isn't a feasible solution for everyone. The company offers an option to send media files in high-quality resolution.

1. Open a conversation on WhatsApp.
2. Tap the pin icon and select Gallery.
3. Select the photos you want to send. Tap the checkmark in the lower-right corner.

   

   

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4. Select HD at the top. Tap the radio button beside HD quality.
5. Tap Send.

   

   

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Similarly, when you send a video on WhatsApp, look for an HD icon to send a clip with high-quality resolution.

Stop others from adding you to a WhatsApp group

If your friend or family member adds you to WhatsApp groups without your consent, use the steps below to prevent them.

1. Go to the Privacy menu in WhatsApp Settings (check the steps above).
2. Tap Groups.
3. Select My contacts except under the Who can add me to groups section.
4. Select annoying contacts and stop them from adding you to WhatsApp groups.

   

   

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Use WhatsApp to its fullest potential

WhatsApp has many powerful features. However, it doesn't have SMS or RCS support. If you need this feature, try Google Messages, which has tons of powerful features that users often miss.