How do I view stories on WhatsApp - briefly?
To view stories on WhatsApp, tap the "Status" tab at the top of the screen. This will open a list of contacts who have recently posted stories.
How do I view stories on WhatsApp - in detail?
Viewing stories on WhatsApp is a seamless and engaging way to stay updated with the latest happenings from your contacts. This feature, introduced to mirror the popular story format found on other social media platforms, allows users to share photos, videos, and text updates that disappear after 24 hours. To view these stories, follow these detailed steps:
- Open WhatsApp: Start by launching the WhatsApp application on your mobile device. Ensure you have the latest version of the app installed for optimal performance and access to all features.
- Navigate to the Status Tab: At the bottom of your screen, you will find several tabs: Chats, Calls, Contacts, and Status. Tap on the 'Status' tab to enter the stories section. Here, you can see circular profile pictures of your contacts who have shared updates.
- View a Story: To view a story from a specific contact, simply tap on their profile picture. The story will open in full-screen mode, displaying the content they have shared. If there are multiple stories from the same contact, you can swipe left or right to navigate through them.
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Interact with Stories: While viewing a story, you have several interaction options:
- Reply Privately: You can send a private message in response to the story by tapping on the 'Message' button at the bottom of the screen. This will open a chat window where you can type your reply.
- React with Emojis: WhatsApp allows you to react to stories using emojis. Tap on the reaction buttons (heart, laugh, surprise, sad, or angry) to send an instant reaction to the story creator.
- Forward Story: If you want to share a story with another contact, tap on the 'Forward' button and select the recipients from your contacts list.
- Skip or Exit: To skip a story, swipe left. If you wish to exit the stories section entirely, tap on the back arrow at the top-left corner of the screen or simply swipe down to return to your chat list.
- Muting Stories: If you find certain contacts' stories less interesting and want to mute them, long press on their profile picture in the Status tab. A menu will appear with options including 'Mute'. Select this option to stop seeing their stories without unfollowing them.
- Check Story Settings: To manage who can view your own stories, go to WhatsApp settings (tap on the three dots at the top-right corner) and select 'Account' > 'Privacy' > 'Status'. Here you can choose whether your stories are visible to 'My contacts', 'My contacts except...' (allowing you to exclude specific contacts), or 'Only share with...' (selecting specific contacts).
By following these steps, you can effortlessly view and interact with WhatsApp stories, staying connected with friends, family, and colleagues in a dynamic and engaging way.