Meta’s WhatsApp has been dropping several new features recently. Be it working on a chat lock for the web version of WhatsApp or stopping users from taking screenshots of others’ profile photos, the messaging platform is constantly evolving to enhance user experience. And now, the tech giant is introducing the ‘Search by Date’ feature.
Now, finding messages, media, links, and documents shared on a specific date within a chat will get a whole lot easier. This much-needed feature aims to aid user experience by providing a more efficient way to revisit important information or conversations. This feature is already available on iOS, Mac, desktop, WhatsApp Web as well as Android devices.
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How It Works
The messaging platform announced that users could now select a date and skip to messages sent from that date onwards in a press note. This feature will be particularly helpful for users who need to quickly locate a specific message or double-check a piece of information within a chat without having to scroll through months’ worth of messages.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the feature’s launch via his WhatsApp channel along with a video demonstration. The ‘Search by Date’ feature is now available for all users globally. It was initially spotted in beta testing back in November 2023. After obtaining a successful result, it is now being rolled out to all users.
To use the ‘Search by Date’ feature, follow the steps mentioned below:
- Open the desired individual or group chat that you wish to search.
- If you’re an Android user, click on the three dots in the top right corner. iOS device holders can tap the contact or group name.
- After clicking the regular ‘Search’ option, you will find a small ‘Calendar icon‘ with a search symbol.
- By selecting the desired date on the pop-up calendar, you can instantly navigate to messages from that day within the chat.
For example, if you wish to revisit a message from November 9, 2023, you can select that date on the pop-up calendar. The chat or group will then open directly to messages from that day, allowing you to scroll up or down the chat as needed.
However, it is important to note that users can only search for chats on a specific date and cannot specify a date range.
Other Features
In addition to the ‘Search by Date’ feature, WhatsApp recently introduced four new text formatting options globally – bulleted points, numbered lists, block quotes, and inline quotes. These new options complement the existing formatting options of bold, italic, strikethrough, and monospace text. The messaging platform is also rumoured to allow users to send messages to other platforms like Telegram and Signal.
Furthermore, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a feature that will allow users to share a QR Code with others to add them as contacts. Currently, users have to head to the settings menu to find their QR Code. With this feature, they will be able to see their QR Code in chats as a shortcut, making it easier to share it with others.
Which of these features excites you the most? How useful is the ‘Search by Date’ feature for you? Let us know in the comments below.
