- Star and pin messages or chats for quick access to what's most important
- Use custom lists and filters to segment your conversations
- Optimize the use of storage and prevents automatic file downloads
- Automate tasks and reminders with bots like Any.do and Puentes.ai
WhatsApp is undoubtedly the most used messaging application Worldwide. From personal conversations with friends and family to work or corporate communications, this tool has become a platform essential in our daily lives. However, with so much intensive use, it's easy for your chat inbox to become a mess.
Are you having trouble finding certain messages? Are you unsure of which conversation you received that important document in? Are you having repetitive or unused chats taking up space? Organize your WhatsApp not only improves your experience, but can help you be more productive, save time and avoid embarrassing mistakes like sending messages to the wrong people. Here we bring you a complete guide within Tricks and functions that will allow you to have your WhatsApp in perfect order.
Highlight important messages so you always have them at hand
One of the most practical and least used functions is that of Mark messages as starredWhether it's an address, an account number, an important date, or information you might need later, you can star it so it doesn't get lost among thousands of messages.
To do so, just long press the message that you want to save and press the star icon. Later, from the contact information or simply from the three-point menu, access the section of 'Featured Messages' You'll see a list of all your saved chats, sorted by chat and date. This is great so you don't have to search through long conversations for something you knew you'd need later.
In addition, these messages only you see them as outstanding, so you can organize yourself without affecting what the other person sees.
A tip? Use them with criterion: Delete what you no longer need so you don't lose effectiveness and highlight only what is a priority.
Pin important chats to the top
Do you constantly talk to a person or group and it bothers you to have to search for them every time you need to text them? WhatsApp allows set up to three chats so that they always appear at the top, no matter when you last spoke to them.
This applies to family members, work groups, your partner, or even that chat with yourself where you save notes or tasks. To do this, Android solo long press on the chat and tap the pin icon. In iOS, swipe the chat to the right and you'll see the option to pin it. From there, they'll be locked in the first position.
It is ideal to have visible the most important without getting lost in the ocean of casual chats, especially if you use WhatsApp intensively.
Create custom lists and filters to organize your conversations
A newer feature in WhatsApp is the ability to filter or group your chats under custom labelsThis is especially useful if you talk to a lot of people for different reasons: work, family, suppliers, friends, clients, etc.
From the main chats tab, simply swipe down to see the filter bar. There you can use the predefined ones like 'Unread', 'Favorites' and 'Groups', but you can also tap the '+' symbol to create your custom filter.
So you could have a list called "Work" that includes your boss, colleagues, or clients, another called "School" with parent contacts, and another for "Family." This allows you to access only what you need at that moment, improving concentration and better managing your time and priorities.
Favorite Chats: Another way to quickly access them
In addition to pinning conversations, WhatsApp has a special favorites section so you can quickly access to certain chats without necessarily being pinned.
To add a contact or group to your favorites you just have to long press chat, click on the three dots and select 'Add to Favorites'. You can then find your favorites using the corresponding filter, just by swiping down on the chats tab.
It is a very useful feature for those who need have a hierarchy of additional importance in their chats, beyond the fixed ones.
Archive your conversations to have a clean chat
Do you have conversations with people that you don't want to delete but you don't want to see everything either? ThereThe option of archive chats It is perfect for you.
On Android, you just have to long press on the chat and tap the archive icon. On iOS, swipe left on the chat and tap “Archive.” Archived chats are saved in a separate section that you can consult at any time, and do not appear on the main screen…unless someone writes to you or you reactivate the conversation.
In the settings, you can also configure whether you want new messages from an archived chat to remain in the inbox or automatically return to the main panel.
Use personal chats as a notepad or task manager
A curious but very useful way to organize yourself with WhatsApp is create a chat with yourselfYou can use it as a to-do list, quick notes, reminders, or even to transfer files from one device to another.
You can do this by starting a conversation with your own number or by accessing the 'Send me a message' option from your contacts. You can also use productivity bots like A that integrate with WhatsApp and allow you to manage tasks, create reminders or synchronize with apps like Trello or Asana.
Mute and restrict chats to avoid distractions
Does your group of friends keep sending memes right in the middle of your workday? mute any group or contact from the chat menu. Just tap the three dots at the top and choose the 'Mute notifications' option. You can do this for 8 hours, a week, or indefinitely.
In addition, WhatsApp also allows restrict chats. That is, hide them in a password-protected folder. This is ideal if you want to chat with someone privately and prevent others from seeing it from the main list.
Export chats to save or email
If you have important conversations for work, studies or any other reason, you can export chat content and send it to you by email or save it to your cloud.
On Android, open the chat, tap the three dots > More > 'Email Chat'. On iOS, tap the chat name > Swipe down > 'Export Chat'. You can include media files if you like.
Create shortcuts to chats on the home screen
Only available on Android, this feature allows you to create shortcuts from your mobile's home screen as if they were independent apps. Ideal for having your most frequent conversations just a tap away.
From the chat, tap the three dots > More > 'Create shortcut' and you'll see an icon with the contact or group's photo appear.
Mark messages as unread to reply later
If you read a message but can't reply right away, you can mark it as unread to remind you that it is pending.
On Android, long-press the chat and then tap 'Mark as unread.' On iOS, swipe right on the chat and you'll see this option.
This doesn't affect the read receipt for the other person, but it will serve as a visual reminder for you.
Prevent WhatsApp from automatically downloading content
By default, WhatsApp has the automatic download of photos, videos and other files. This not only fill your storage, it can also consume your data unnecessarily.
Go to Settings > Storage & Data and adjust what type of content should be downloaded and when: using Wi-Fi, using mobile data, or manually only. We recommend leaving everything on manual.
Manage and organize multimedia files
WhatsApp includes a advanced file search which allows you to quickly access all documents, images, audios or links received.
On the main screen, tap the magnifying glass icon and then choose the type of file you want to search for. You can also do this from each chat's information in the shared files section.
Make a manual backup of your chats
WhatsApp creates daily backups automatically if you've configured it to do so. But if you want to make sure you don't lose anything important, you can force a manual backup.
Go to Settings > Chats > Backup and tap 'Save Now'. You can toggle whether it includes videos, and choose whether it will be saved to Google Drive (Android) or in iCloud (iOS).
Lock WhatsApp with fingerprint or facial recognition
A very useful extra privacy measure is activate biometric lock from WhatsApp. This way, no one can access your conversations if they take your phone without permission.
Go to Settings > Privacy > 'Screen lock' or 'Fingerprint lock', depending on your operating system. You can set a delay so it doesn't activate constantly.
Organize your tasks with reminders and bots
An increasingly popular trend is Use WhatsApp as a productivity toolThanks to services like Puentes or Any.do, you can schedule reminders, tasks, and sync with other apps.
You just have to install the desired bot and write commands Simple tasks like "Remind me to meet with Juan tomorrow at 10." The bot will record it and notify you at the appropriate time. You can even send an image of a document or message, and it will note it down as a task.
Thus, WhatsApp also becomes a a kind of virtual secretary for your day to day.
Throughout this article, we've reviewed all the tricks, hidden features, and advanced tools that allow you to turn WhatsApp into much more than a simple chat app. From highlighting messages and creating custom filters to using productivity bots or scheduling reminders, the options are endless. Mastering these features will not only help you save time, but it will also make the difference between digital chaos and an organized, fluid and secure experience.
Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.