We've all seen those lists of WhatsApp hacks that promise the world but end up disappointing.
This list of WhatsApp features for 2025, however, is full of WhatsApp hacks you're actually likely to use.
Designed to save you time, protect your privacy and help you stay connected, they're ideal when you're at home, holidaying or travelling for work.
10 Best WhatsApp Hacks, Tips and Tricks You'll Actually Use
1. Send Yourself Notes, Links and Files
Start a chat with yourself. Hear me out, it's useful, not weird - I promise.
Your own WhatsApp chat becomes a free notepad that syncs across all devices. That means no more cluttered notes apps or forgotten screenshots.
Search for 'you' in contacts and start messaging yourself shopping lists, to-dos and those cool links you want to bookmark and read later.
2. Customise Notifications by Chat
Not all messages are created equal. Some take priority over others, especially if you're part of an overly active group chat.
To customise notifications, go to any chat, tap the contact name, and go to Notifications. From here, you can set custom tones, turn off vibrations or mute entirely.
Now you'll know instantly when something important happens without being disturbed by constant group chat pings.
3. Hide Your Last Seen, Profile Photo or Status from Certain People
Privacy shouldn't be all or nothing. In Settings > Privacy, you can hide when you were last online from specific contacts while keeping it visible for others.
The same goes for updates to your profile photos and statuses. Perfect for avoiding that colleague who messages at 10 PM or keeping family dramas compartmentalised.
4. Star Messages for Quick Access
This WhatsApp hack means no more scrolling through months of chat history looking for that all-important thread.
You can star crucial messages by long-pressing and tapping the star icon. Once you've done this, go to Settings > Starred Messages to find your favourite chats.
It's particularly handy for travel details, meeting points or any information you'll need again.
Think of it as bookmarking for WhatsApp - your thumb will appreciate the break from scrolling.
5. Create a Broadcast Instead of yet Another New Group
Do you need to send the same message to multiple people, but don't want to create yet another group? Enter WhatsApp's broadcast feature.
Recipients get individual messages and can't see who else received it - similar to an email's BCC function.
Use it when you're sharing travel updates with family or sending party invites and save yourself writing or cut and pasting the same message over and over.
To start a new broadcast, open WhatsApp, select the three vertical dots in the top corner and tap 'new broadcast'.
6. Use Disappearing Messages for Temporary Chats
Some conversations shouldn't live forever. Turn on disappearing messages in WhatsApp to store specific conversations for a limited time.
This means you can choose how long you keep messages containing sensitive information, temporary details or location pins.
You can choose to make messages vanish after 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days. Ideal for sharing travel itineraries, temporary addresses or anything you don't want cluttering your chat history.
To activate disappearing messages, go to the conversation thread, then find it in the vertical dots menu.
7. Pin Your Most Important Chats
Stop hunting through your chat list for important conversations and instead pin up to three chats to the top of your list.
Whether it's family, a travel buddy or a group, pinned chats stay visible, regardless of activity.
Simple, effective and time-saving, this hack is perfect for keeping important conversations accessible when life gets busy.
To use the pin chats WhatsApp feature, long-press any chat, tap the pin icon and repeat the process to remove it.
8. Search Your Chats Like a Pro
WhatsApp's search function is more powerful than many users may realise.
Search for a message by date using the format 12/03/2024. Find images by typing "photos" or locate documents with "documents". Combine terms like "restaurant photos" to find specific content faster.
The search bar isn't just for names - it's a useful search engine for your messaging history.
Convenient for when you're trying to remember where someone recommended that excellent tapas bar in Barcelona six months ago.
9. Send Your Location in Real Time
Meeting someone in an unfamiliar city? Share your live location on WhatsApp instead of constantly updating them.
In any chat, tap the attachment icon. Then choose Location, then Share Live Location. They'll see exactly where you are and how to find you.
When it comes to WhatsApp hacks, this one is useful for things such as airport pickups, finding friends at festivals or navigating cities together. Much more reliable than saying "I'm by the big statue".
10. Make WhatsApp Work Abroad Without Shock Roaming Fees
Here's the game-changer for travellers. WhatsApp works perfectly with an eSIM, giving you local data rates without swapping physical SIM cards.
Download an eSIM from Airalo before you travel and activate it when you land. You'll get your WhatsApp messages instantly without those horrifying roaming charges.
Plus, you can keep your UK number active for important calls while using local data for everything else.
Perfect for staying connected without it costing a fortune.
FAQs - 10 WhatsApp Hacks, Tips, Tricks and Features You'll Actually Use
1. What Are The Best Whatsapp Hacks In 2025?
The most useful WhatsApp hacks in 2025 include using your own chat as a notepad, starring important messages, customising notifications and using broadcasts instead of group chats. These features are built into WhatsApp and can save you time and effort on a daily basis.
2. How Do I Find Hidden Features On Whatsapp?
Most hidden WhatsApp features are actually in plain sight within Settings. Check Privacy settings for granular controls, explore chat-specific settings by tapping contact names and look through the main Settings menu. Regular updates also introduce new features worth exploring.
3. Can I Use Whatsapp Abroad Without Roaming Charges?
Yes, by using an eSIM for local data or connecting to Wi-Fi. WhatsApp is a VoIP app that uses the internet to function, which means you can avoid shock roaming charges when messaging from abroad. eSIMs are particularly convenient as they provide local data rates without physical SIM swapping.
4. What Is The Most Useful Whatsapp Trick?
Starring messages for quick access consistently ranks among the most useful WhatsApp hacks. It eliminates the need for lots of scrolling through chat history and keeps important information instantly accessible. Perfect for travel details, addresses and any information you'll reference repeatedly.
5. Are Whatsapp Hacks And Tricks Safe To Use?
All of the WhatsApp hacks here use official features, not third-party apps, so they’re safe to try and won’t compromise your account security.
