There are a number of hidden features in WhatsApp that can make using the app easier... you may not know about them!

Almost everyone agrees that WhatsApp has become indispensable in our daily lives. It's one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over two billion users.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is constantly updating the app, offering attractive features to users and making the user experience more enjoyable.

According to the British newspaper, The Sun, there are a number of hidden features in WhatsApp that can make using the app easier, including:

1-"Ultra Stealth Mode"

There are a number of little tricks you can use to avoid letting the message sender know you've seen their message. One simple method is to press and hold the message when it pops up on your locked iPhone screen. This pulls up a preview of the full text so you can read it without having to open the message in the app.

2- Recover your conversations

Users may want to recover their conversations if they accidentally delete them and potentially lose them forever. WhatsApp has a feature that allows conversations to be sent directly to an email address.

This can be done by opening the chat you want to save, then clicking Options, then More, then "Chat via Email." Up to 40,000 messages can be sent at any one time, with or without media files.

3-Submit your location

You can let a friend know your exact location and allow them to track your phone's location through the app. This can be useful, for example, if you're late for an appointment or meeting.

Users can choose from three tracking time periods: 15 minutes, one hour, or eight hours. The timeframe for tracking depends on the system you use.

On iOS: Tap the chat, tap the + button in the bottom left, tap Location followed by Share Live Location, and select the duration.

On Android: Tap the chat, then the paperclip image on the right, then tap Location followed by Share Live Location, and select the duration.

4- Sending a disappearing photo or video

It's possible to send a photo or video that disappears after being viewed once, similar to how Snapchat works.

This can be useful if you want to send sensitive or private information, although you should be aware that the recipient can still take a screenshot.

To turn on this feature on iOS: Open the conversation, tap the + icon, select the photo or video, tap "1" to the left of the blue send arrow, then send.

On Android: Open the conversation, tap the paperclip icon, select a photo or video, tap "1" next to the blue send arrow, and then send.

5- Hands-free voice message recording

While most people know that you can send voice messages through the app to your contacts, many may not know that you can record a message hands-free. To do this, press and hold the microphone icon and then swipe up to reveal the "lock," allowing you to record without holding your hand over the microphone. Once you've completed your message, simply tap Send.

6- Pin main friends and group chats

For those who often leave messages unanswered or take a long time to reply, WhatsApp has a feature that can be very useful. Users can pin specific conversations to the top of the app, meaning they'll be the first to see new and unread messages. To activate the feature:

On iOS: Swipe from left to right, then tap Pin Chat.

On Android: Long press on the chat, then tap the pin at the top of the screen.

7-Require Face ID or Touch ID to open the app

Unfortunately, this feature is currently only available for iOS users, but it adds another layer of security for anyone who wants to keep their messages away from prying eyes. Once the feature is enabled, Face ID or Touch ID will be required to access messages even on an already unlocked phone.