WhatsApp tests self‑destructing texts and a home‑screen voice‑message widget

WhatsApp is piloting a new self‑destructing text message feature that disappears permanently after the recipient reads it. The option, shown in a recent Android beta and previewed by WABetaInfo, adds a “view once” toggle for text, joining existing one‑time photo, video and voice‑note modes. The feature currently rolls out to Android beta users, with a broader public release on Android and iOS expected in the coming weeks or months.

In parallel, the app’s developers are working on an Android home‑screen widget that lets users record and send voice messages without opening WhatsApp. The widget, sized 3 × 1 and resizable, initiates recording with a single tap and then lets the user choose contacts or post the note as a status update. Both initiatives aim to place the platform’s most used functions directly on users’ home screens.