WhatsApp Pinned Messages Might Get an Expiration Date

WhatsApp pinned messages can be unpinned automatically soon.

The company behind the secure messaging app is reportedly developing a new chat feature that would allow pinned messages to automatically unpin themselves at a later date at the user's discretion.

The rumored new feature is one of the latest WhatsApp is developing for its app for future release.

WhatsApp Message Pin Duration

WhatsApp, unlike many messaging apps, doesn't allow users to pin important messages for future reference, allowing for quick access instead of scrolling for hours to find it among a sea of text. Despite this, it is working on the said feature for a future release, though it is expected to work exactly like other messaging apps.

However, there are times when a pinned message is no longer important or unneeded, which happens over time. However, to unpin one, users must find it manually and select unpin after doing the necessary gesture - an act that could be time-consuming.

Luckily, the company is developing a feature called "Message pin duration," according to WABetaInfo's notes about WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.13.11 update. This new feature allows users to pin certain messages in a conversation to highlight them for future reference for a limited period.

The publication's screenshot of the feature showed that it would have users choose the duration a pinned message would stay pinned through three options: 24 hours, a week (7 days), or a month (30 days). There is no option to keep the message pinned indefinitely.

Despite these options, users can still choose to unpin a message before the selected period is over, giving users the flexibility and control they need over their pinned messages.

The feature works on individual and group chats, allowing users to highlight important messages without worrying about how to unpin them later. Regardless, WhatsApp intention of launching the ability to pin and unpin messages on individual and group chats is a must-have feature for the app, which is falling behind its contemporaries in this regard.

It is unknown when WhatsApp will release these updates, but given that its message pin duration feature is still in development, it wouldn't be ready for a public rollout anytime soon.

Other Upcoming WhatsApp Features

Aside from the Pin and unpin features, WhatsApp is also developing other features to improve its app, with some already being tried out by beta testers.

For instance, you may recall that the company recently rolled out its Advanced Proxy Configuration Settings to beta testers, to improve the app's proxy server toggle.

WhatsApp is also testing in-app chat support for its Windows Desktop app and screen sharing during video calls, allowing users to reach WhatsApp support directly and share their screens during video calls soon, respectively.

Last but not least, WhatsApp is also allowing beta testers to try its new icons for communities and their linked groups through the Google Play Beta Program, per a recent WABetaInfo post.