SEND 2GB FILES: WhatsApp, one of the most popular global messenger tools, has unveiled some cool updates this year (2022). We share what we've seen and tested, including the ability to send files up to 2 gigabytes (GB) in size within WhatsApp. This is a huge jump from 100MB, the previous limit. It’s helpful for collaboration. What's more, WhatsApp said the huge file transfer is protected by end-to-end encryption. Go to chat > tap "attach" button on Android device ("+" for iOS) > Document > Browse other docs > Videos > Click target video > Send >Wait for send clock to complete.
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BUT USE WIFI: To save on your data, remember to use WiFi with big file transfers. WhatsApp can be a data hog. You can customise when media is allowed to download, and ensure use as little data as possible. iOS & Android: Settings > Storage and Data > Media Auto-Download > Switch to Wi-Fi only for each option to save your data.
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PIN A WHATSAPP CHAT: It's perfect setting for a person or group you message most frequently — a dear friend or family member. That way, you never have to search through your other chats to find them. Doing this takes you conversation to the top of your chat window. Try it now (if you hadn’t done it yet). iOS: > Swipe left to right> tap Pin Chat. Android: > Long press on the chat display > Tap the pin at the top of the screen. To “unpin”, just repeat the process then tap > “Unpin”.
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HAVE 512 PEOPLE IN ONE CHAT: This is one of the newest WhatsApp features. If you want to be a part of a chat with more than 500 members, this is now possible. If not (or not yet), then it’s now doable. WhatsApp has recently rolled out the option following requests from end users. If you haven't tried it yet, go and discover for yourself. WhatsApp has recently rolled out the option following requests from end users. It's good for really large communities, link of a parents-teachers association even in a small school.
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EMOJIS, LOTS OF IT: WhatsApp, used by up to 2 billion people, offers a lot more than simply allowing you to message your friends and exchange GIFs. There are plenty of functionality, tricks out there to learn. Literally thousands of Emoji reactions are now available on the app's latest version. Go ahead and try them.
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OUT-OF-CHAT VOICE NOTES PLAYBACK: This feature allows you to play voice notes (also encourages people to use voice messaging more, which by the way, you can do some slight edits). The playhead appears at the top of your WhatsApp. This allows you to navigate around to other chats or write messages — you’ll still be listening to that voice note. And you could even exit WhatsApp completely and the voice note could still be playing when you come back into that message.
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ANOTHER WAY OF SENDING BIG FILES: Here’s another near trick to send elephantine files on WhatsApp. Step 1. Upload the file on Google Drive. Step 2: Once you’re in Google drive, tap the file name and hold it for some time, then click “copy link”. Step 3: Go back to WhatsApp and share video link in the text field. The link will allow your contacts to see the video and download if they want.
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REPLY TO A SPECIFIC MESSAGE: Using a button to quickly indicate you like a message. This is a regular feature on other social networking app. With WhatsApp, that wasn’t the case before. Now, you can “like”, “heart”, and react using one or some of the thousands of emoticons to specific messages. How? Go to message > Long-press the message > Reply (a menu appears to reply to a specific message using the quote).
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SEARCH, RESCUE, DESTROY: It's a simple, but useful feature. Quickly find different file types within the WhatsApp — images, videos, chats, details — using specific search words. Benefit: It allows you to pick important files, save them in an external drive, discard the unimportant ones. iOS: Chats > Specific chat > Tap contact info at the top > Search button > Type in the search word. Android: Chats > Specific chat > Open Menu on top right > Search > Type in search word. It’s also possible to search a specific chat, instead of all chats.
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MANAGE STORAGE: Large files (videos or photos), when not managed well , eventually weigh your phone down. You could simply delete all of them from one chat; alternatively, you can trash all the messages in a specific chat or group, leaving other file types intact (i.e. photos). iOS & Android: Settings > Storage and Data > Manage Storage > Select Contact > Manage > Select > Tick the boxes next to what you want deleted> Tap bin.
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SEND A DISAPPEARING IMAGE OR VIDEO: This is another magical feature. When send a message, you the option for it to literally disappear once seen by the recipient. This is useful for passwords, bank details, or stuff that contain sensitive data. As soon as the recipient closes it, the message disappears. How to remember? If you are recipient, simply take a screenshot. iOS: Specific chat > Tap on the "+" next to the message input field > Choose 'Camera' to take a photo or 'Photo & Video Library' to select a photo > Choose the photo > Tap on the "1" next to the blue send arrow > Press the blue arrow to send. Android: Specific chat > Tap on the paperclip next to the message input field > Choose 'Camera' to take a photo or 'Gallery' to select a photo > Choose the photo > Tap on the "1" next to the blue send arrow > Press the blue arrow to send.
Image Credit: Screengrab | Jay Hilotin
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WHATSAPP REMAINS FREE: The messaging app has had a few hiccups in the past. Its popularity remains high. The new features and improvements allow easy ways to customise your experience so it looks and works better for you. For example, you customise your wallpaper for each chat, or move your WhatsApp chats from iPhone to Android devices. Go to Settings > Chats and tap on the Move chats to Android option. WhatsApp will prepare your chat backup. Enjoy these updates now so it you, family, friends and work groups stay close to one another. Best of all, it remain a free-to-use app.
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