{"id":60609,"date":"2022-05-09T14:19:11","date_gmt":"2022-05-09T08:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=60609"},"modified":"2026-10-12T12:53:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T07:23:14","slug":"stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop WhatsApp Group Members from Turning On Disappearing Messages"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> To stop WhatsApp disappearing messages being turned on or off by group members, a group admin needs to open the group, go to Group permissions and turn off &#8220;Edit group settings&#8221; (older versions call it Group settings, Edit group info, Only admins). After that, only admins can change the disappearing messages timer. <em>Updated October 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This is a problem for almost all WhatsApp group admins: by default any member can turn on disappearing messages, which makes new chat messages vanish after a fixed interval of, say, 7 days.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ae64c70e6ef7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ae64c70e6ef7\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#What_are_WhatsApp_disappearing_messages\" >What are WhatsApp disappearing messages<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#The_problem_of_WhatsApp_disappearing_messages\" >The problem of WhatsApp disappearing messages<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#Disable_disappearing_messages_for_group_members\" >Disable disappearing messages for group members<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#How_to_turn_off_disappearing_messages_in_a_group\" >How to turn off disappearing messages in a group<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#Frequently_asked_questions\" >Frequently asked questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#Can_I_see_WhatsApp_disappearing_messages_after_they_vanish\" >Can I see WhatsApp disappearing messages after they vanish?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#Can_any_member_turn_on_disappearing_messages_in_a_WhatsApp_group\" >Can any member turn on disappearing messages in a WhatsApp group?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#What_timers_does_WhatsApp_offer_for_disappearing_messages\" >What timers does WhatsApp offer for disappearing messages?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/#Does_the_admin-only_setting_stop_anything_else\" >Does the admin-only setting stop anything else?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_WhatsApp_disappearing_messages\"><\/span>What are WhatsApp disappearing messages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Disappearing messages is a WhatsApp feature that makes chat messages disappear after 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days. By default, all messages stay in the chat and disappearing messages are off.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-60614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-disappearing-messages-off.png\" alt=\"whatsapp disappearing messages off\" width=\"399\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-disappearing-messages-off.png 702w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-disappearing-messages-off-298x300.png 298w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-disappearing-messages-off-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-disappearing-messages-off-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>However, in a group any member can turn on disappearing messages for the whole group unless the admins restrict it. It is another important privacy feature, like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/04\/whatsapp-one-view-photo-video\/\">WhatsApp One View<\/a> option.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_problem_of_WhatsApp_disappearing_messages\"><\/span>The problem of WhatsApp disappearing messages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Disappearing messages are very good for privacy, as they remove messages after a fixed time from the WhatsApp app for all group members. But by default every member of a group is allowed to turn disappearing messages on or off whenever they like. It is hard to understand why such an important group setting is open to every member instead of being limited to admins.<\/p>\n<p>I was particularly disturbed when members in my WhatsApp groups kept turning on disappearing messages for no obvious reason, because they did not understand the feature well. Then different group admins or other members would repeatedly turn them off again.<\/p>\n<p>The activity of turning disappearing messages on and off shows up in the group chat, so you can easily see who turned them on and who turned them back off.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disable_disappearing_messages_for_group_members\"><\/span>Disable disappearing messages for group members<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There is a setting where group admins can stop members from turning disappearing messages on or off. It is bundled with a setting that also stops members from changing the group icon, group name and description, and pinned messages.<\/p>\n<p><strong>On a current version of WhatsApp:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the group and tap the group name to open Group info.<\/li>\n<li>Open <strong>Group permissions<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Turn off <strong>Edit group settings<\/strong>, so that only admins can change them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>On older versions of WhatsApp<\/strong> (as in the screenshots below): after logging in, click the 3 dots icon on the right and go to Group Info.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-60613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/edit-whatspp-group-info.png\" alt=\"edit whatsapp group info\" width=\"468\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/edit-whatspp-group-info.png 488w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/edit-whatspp-group-info-300x239.png 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/edit-whatspp-group-info-150x119.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Go to Group Settings<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-60612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-settings.png\" alt=\"whatsapp group settings\" width=\"502\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-settings.png 790w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-settings-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-settings-150x86.png 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-settings-768x441.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Edit Group Info, then choose the <strong>Only admins<\/strong> option.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-60611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-info-admins.png\" alt=\"whatsapp group info\" width=\"497\" height=\"295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-info-admins.png 718w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-info-admins-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatsapp-group-info-admins-150x89.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-60610\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatspp-disappearing-message-admins.png\" alt=\"whatspp disappearing message admins\" width=\"499\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatspp-disappearing-message-admins.png 774w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatspp-disappearing-message-admins-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatspp-disappearing-message-admins-150x108.png 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/whatspp-disappearing-message-admins-768x554.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 499px) 100vw, 499px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s it. Now group members cannot change the WhatsApp disappearing messages setting, and as an added bonus they also cannot edit the group icon, title or description. Menu names change between WhatsApp versions, so if you do not see the exact label, look for the permission that controls who can edit group settings.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_turn_off_disappearing_messages_in_a_group\"><\/span>How to turn off disappearing messages in a group<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Open the group, tap the group name, choose <strong>Disappearing messages<\/strong> and select Off. If members can still change it, restrict the setting to admins as shown above so that it stays off.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_see_WhatsApp_disappearing_messages_after_they_vanish\"><\/span>Can I see WhatsApp disappearing messages after they vanish?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. Once a disappearing message expires, it is removed from the chat and WhatsApp cannot bring it back. Anyone who forwarded, copied or took a screenshot of it before then still has that copy, and photos or videos may stay in the phone gallery if media auto-download was on.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_any_member_turn_on_disappearing_messages_in_a_WhatsApp_group\"><\/span>Can any member turn on disappearing messages in a WhatsApp group?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, by default any group member can turn disappearing messages on or off. Admins can restrict it to admins only.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_timers_does_WhatsApp_offer_for_disappearing_messages\"><\/span>What timers does WhatsApp offer for disappearing messages?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>24 hours, 7 days or 90 days.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_admin-only_setting_stop_anything_else\"><\/span>Does the admin-only setting stop anything else?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. The same permission stops members from changing the group name, icon, description and pinned messages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Quick answer: To stop WhatsApp disappearing messages being turned on or off by group members, a group admin needs to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":60610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-60609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-media","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60609"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64394,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60609\/revisions\/64394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}