8 hidden WhatsApp tricks you didn't know about and should use in 2025

You use WhatsApp every day, but are you really getting the most out of it? There are hidden features that most users ignore. We reveal 8 tricks for 2025 that will transform your experience, from improving your privacy to customizing your chats like a pro.

WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app in the world, but beneath its apparent simplicity lies an arsenal of features and tricks that go unnoticed by most. As the platform evolves, tools designed to improve privacy, productivity, and personalization are added.

By 2025, mastering these features is no longer optional; it's essential to protecting your information and communicating more efficiently. We've compiled eight of the most useful and lesser-known tricks you should start using today, based on the latest updates and expert guides.

The "Chat Lock" feature is familiar, but WhatsApp has taken it a step further. You can now completely hide a conversation from your chat list and make it accessible only with a secret code you define, separate from your phone's unlock code.

• Go to the chat you want to hide and tap the contact's name.
• Select “Chat Lock” and activate it with your fingerprint or face.
• Inside the "Blocked Chats" folder, go to "Settings" and activate the "Hide Blocked Chats" option.
• Create your secret code. To view the hidden chat, you'll need to enter this code in WhatsApp's main search bar.

Privacy is a growing concern. WhatsApp has introduced an option to protect your IP address during calls, making it difficult for others to track your location. The feature redirects the call through WhatsApp's servers.

• Go to Settings > Privacy > Advanced and turn on “Protect IP address during calls.”
• Note: Enabling this feature may slightly reduce call quality.

In addition to bold, italics, and strikethrough, WhatsApp has added new text formats to better organize your messages—ideal for work or giving clear instructions.

• Quote: Type the > symbol followed by a space and the text. (Ex: > This is a quote)
• Numbered list: Write a number followed by a period and a space. (Ex: 1. First point)
• * Bulleted list: Type a hyphen – or asterisk * followed by a space.

“Personalization is key to feeling comfortable in an app you use every day. Using a special photo for someone you care about adds a personal touch to every conversation.” – Expert advice on app personalization.

Are you getting lost in hundreds of messages looking for an address or important information? The "Starred Messages" feature is your best friend.

• Long press on any message and tap the star icon at the top.
• To view all your saved messages, go to the three-dot menu on the home screen and select "Starred Messages," or go to a specific chat, tap the contact's name, and look for the same option.

No more sending pixelated images. WhatsApp now allows you to send multimedia files in high definition natively.

• When you select a photo or video to send, you'll see an "HD" icon at the top of the editing screen.
• Tap it and select “HD Quality” before sending.

You no longer need a third-party scanner app. You can scan physical documents and send them as PDFs directly from WhatsApp.

• In a chat, tap the paperclip icon (attach) and select “Document.”
• Look for the "Scan Document" option. The camera will activate so you can capture the image, adjust it, and send it as a professional PDF file.

A super-fast way to give a thumbs-up to a message without having to long-press and search through the emoji menu.

• Simply double-tap any message quickly to react with the thumbs-up emoji. It's a simple yet time-saving shortcut.

This is an advanced trick for extreme situations where WhatsApp is blocked or the internet is down. It allows you to connect through a proxy server.

• Go to Settings > Storage & Data > Proxy.
• Enable the option and set a proxy address (you can search for free and secure proxy servers online). When you enable it, for example, with the address 1.1.1.1, your messages won't arrive until you disable it, and you'll appear offline.

Mastering these tricks will not only make you more efficient, but it will give you greater control over your privacy and the way you communicate.