WhatsApp is testing a new twist on its disappearing‑messages feature that erases a chat once the recipient opens it. The option, labeled “After reading,” appears in the app’s default timer settings in the latest iOS beta on TestFlight. Users can pick a delay of 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 12 hours before the message vanishes.

Beta testers on both iOS and Android report the setting behaves differently from the existing 24‑hour, 7‑day, and 90‑day timers. Unread messages still disappear after 24 hours, but those marked “After reading” follow the chosen interval. WhatsApp says the feature can be enabled per chat or as a default for all new conversations, helping privacy‑focused users and freeing device storage.

The addition arrives as messaging apps race to offer tighter ephemerality after high‑profile leaks raised user concerns. By letting senders set a post‑read expiry, WhatsApp gives control over how long a piece of text lives on the recipient’s device. The option is still limited to beta builds, but its presence on both platforms hints at a near‑term public rollout.

If the feature lands, enterprises may adopt it for confidential communications, while casual users gain peace of mind that fleeting thoughts truly disappear. WhatsApp’s move also pressures rivals like Signal and Telegram to refine their own self‑destruct timers.