WhatsApp could soon delete messages after they’re read

WhatsApp is working on a new disappearing messages option that will automatically delete chats after the recipient reads them, making disappearing messages more practical for private conversations.

The feature was spotted in the latest WhatsApp beta for iPhone by WABetaInfo and is also appearing in Android beta builds, suggesting a wider rollout may not be too far away.

A new burn-after-reading messages feature is in the works

Currently, WhatsApp lets users set disappearing messages to vanish after fixed time periods, such as 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.

The new option changes that behavior by tying deletion to when the message is actually read.

Your Complete iOS 26 Playbook:

Get our exclusive Ultimate iOS 26 Guide 📚 — absolutely FREE when you sign up for our newsletter below.

According to WABetaInfo, users will be able to select an “After reading” option when configuring self-erasing messages. Once the recipient opens the message, a secondary timer begins counting down before the message disappears.

The beta version reportedly includes multiple timer options for messages after they’ve been read, including:

5 minutes
1 hour
12 hours

Unread messages will still disappear automatically after 24 hours.

Interestingly, the new setting currently appears inside WhatsApp’s existing “Default message timer” menu, despite working differently from WhatsApp’s usual time-based auto-deleting chats.

The feature could improve both privacy and storage management

WhatsApp already allows disappearing messages to be enabled either for specific chats or for all new conversations by default.

The feature is commonly used both for additional privacy and for reducing message clutter and storage usage over time.

The new option also changes how disappearing messages work. Instead of deleting chats after a fixed amount of time, messages stay available until the recipient actually opens them.

WABetaInfo says the feature is currently available to some beta testers on iPhone and Android, while a small number of App Store users may also already have access.

There’s still no official timeline for a broader public rollout.

Would you use disappearing messages more often if WhatsApp deleted them only after they were read? Share your thoughts in the comments below.