A “best WhatsApp tricks 2018” article is now archaeological material. In 2026, the useful features are less about hidden formatting codes and more about account security, backup encryption and reducing scam exposure.
Spend five minutes in Settings before chasing tricks
Run Privacy Checkup
WhatsApp’s guided checkup walks through important privacy settings in one place.
Silence unknown callers
Unknown calls can be screened so they do not ring while still appearing in the call list.
Encrypt chat backups
WhatsApp introduced passkey-enabled end-to-end encrypted backups using device biometrics or screen lock.
Be suspicious of device-linking requests
Meta added warnings in 2026 for linking behavior that may indicate a scam attempt.
Use disappearing messages deliberately
They can reduce long-term message retention, but they do not prevent recipients from preserving information another way.
Use group event reminders
WhatsApp’s 2026 group update lets event creators set custom early reminders for invitees.
Pause when a stranger moves you across apps
Meta says scam operations often push victims from one platform to another before asking for money, crypto or account access.