WhatsApp has a useful and largely unknown feature for both iPhone and Android users that can greatly improve the way you view messages on the platform. By enabling the “Background App Refresh” on iOS or the “Background Data” option on Android, you can ensure that messages, photos, videos, and other content are loaded and visible even when the app is not open in the background on your phone. This can be particularly helpful if you are part of multiple groups or have ongoing conversations with several people, as it allows you to access new messages more quickly when you open the app.
While this feature is designed to enhance your experience with WhatsApp, it’s worth noting that it can impact your phone’s battery life and internet data usage. As the app will be constantly loading data in the background, it may drain your battery faster and use more data than if the feature were disabled. However, for many users, the convenience of faster message visibility may outweigh these potential drawbacks.
To activate this feature on your iPhone or Android device, follow these steps:
iPhone:
- Go to “Settings”
- Tap on “WhatsApp”
- Toggle on “Background App Refresh”
Android:
- Go to “Settings”
- Tap on “Data usage”
- Tap on “WhatsApp”
- Toggle on “Allow background data usage”
By taking advantage of this little-known function, you can make messaging on WhatsApp even more convenient and efficient.
