How to keep WhatsApp messages unread?

How to keep WhatsApp messages unread - briefly?

To keep WhatsApp messages unread, you can simply use the "Mark as Unread" feature available in both individual and group chats. Alternatively, you can disable notifications for specific contacts or groups to prevent messages from appearing as unread in the first place.

How to keep WhatsApp messages unread - in detail?

To keep WhatsApp messages unread, you can employ several strategies depending on the device and operating system you are using. Here’s a detailed guide to help you achieve this:

For Android Users:

  1. Do Not Disturb Mode:

    • Open WhatsApp.
    • Go to "Settings" (three dots in the upper right corner).
    • Select "Notifications."
    • Turn on "Do Not Disturb." This feature will mute notifications but still allow messages to be delivered.

  2. Disable Preview:

    • In the same "Notifications" section, disable "Show preview." This prevents message content from appearing in the notification bar.

For iOS Users:

  1. Do Not Disturb Mode:

    • Open WhatsApp.
    • Go to "Settings" (gear icon at the bottom right).
    • Select "Notifications."
    • Turn on "Do Not Disturb." This will silence notifications but still deliver messages.

  2. Disable Preview:

    • In the same "Notifications" section, disable "Show Preview." This hides message content from the lock screen and notification center.

General Strategies for All Users:

  1. Archive Messages:

    • Open WhatsApp.
    • Long-press on the conversation you wish to keep unread.
    • Select "Archive" from the menu that appears at the top of the screen. Archived messages will not show as unread, but they can still be accessed later.

  2. Turn Off Read Receipts:

    • Open WhatsApp.
    • Go to "Settings."
    • Select "Account."
    • Go to "Privacy."
    • Turn off "Read Receipts." This setting prevents others from knowing whether you’ve read their messages, but it does not prevent the messages from being marked as read on your end.

  3. Use a Secondary Device:

    • If maintaining unread status is critical, consider using a secondary device where you only check WhatsApp occasionally. This way, messages will remain unread on your primary device until you manually mark them as read.

  4. Disable Background App Refresh (iOS Only):

    • Go to "Settings" on your iPhone.
    • Select "General."
    • Tap on "Background App Refresh."
    • Find WhatsApp in the list and disable it. This prevents WhatsApp from updating in the background, which can help maintain unread status until you manually open the app.

By employing these strategies, you can effectively manage the read status of your WhatsApp messages across different platforms.