WhatsApp has spent the past few years adding more privacy-focused messaging options, especially for users who do not want every message to remain in a chat forever. The platform already has View Once messages, which can only be opened once, and Disappearing Messages, which automatically removes messages after a selected period.

Now, WhatsApp appears to be testing something that sits somewhere between those two features. Instead of making a message disappear based only on when it was sent, the new option would allow a message to disappear a certain amount of time after it has been read.

A New Middle Ground Between View Once And Disappearing Messages

The reported feature is basically an "after reading" timer. This means a message can remain available until the recipient opens it, and once it has been read, the countdown begins.

That makes it different from standard Disappearing Messages, where the timer usually runs based on the message timeline inside the chat. It is also less strict than View Once, because the recipient may still have a short window to look at the message again before it disappears.

This could be useful for messages that are not necessarily secret enough to be View Once, but still not something users want sitting in the chat for hours, days, or weeks.

Limited Timer Options For Now

According to WABetaInfo, the feature was spotted in the WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.19.10.72 through TestFlight. A similar feature was also reportedly seen on Android about a month earlier.

From the screenshots shared by the outlet, WhatsApp currently appears to offer only three "after reading" timer options: five minutes, one hour, and 12 hours. That means users do not seem to get full custom control over the timer, at least in the current beta version.

This keeps the feature simple, but it may also feel slightly limited for users who prefer more precise control. Still, the three options cover different use cases: very short-lived messages, messages that can stay around briefly, and messages that remain available for half a day after being opened.

How It Appears To Work Inside Disappearing Messages

While the exact access path has not been fully detailed, the feature appears to be connected to the existing Disappearing Messages section. Based on the screenshots, the new "after reading" choices seem to appear alongside the usual disappearing message timers.

That suggests WhatsApp may treat this as an extra layer inside its broader disappearing message system rather than a completely separate feature.

At first, this may sound a little repetitive. After all, Disappearing Messages already removes messages after a period of time. However, the difference is timing. A normal disappearing message may expire even if the recipient has not really engaged with it yet, depending on the timer. An "after reading" timer is more focused on what happens once the message has actually been seen.

Why This Feature Could Be Useful

The feature could be helpful for people who want more control over short-lived conversations. For example, someone may want to send temporary information that the other person can read properly, but not keep permanently in the chat.

It may also suit users who already rely on Disappearing Messages but want certain messages to vanish faster after being opened. A five-minute timer, for instance, creates a much shorter lifespan than the standard disappearing message durations WhatsApp usually offers.

This does not make the feature a perfect privacy shield, of course. Recipients may still be able to remember, copy, screenshot, or otherwise capture information depending on platform restrictions and behaviour. But as a chat management tool, it gives users another way to reduce how long messages remain visible.

Still Limited To Beta Testers

As usual with WhatsApp beta features, this is not available to everyone yet. The report says the feature is being rolled out only to some beta testers on iOS through TestFlight. Even among beta users, not everyone will necessarily see it immediately.

That means the wider WhatsApp user base may need to wait before the feature becomes generally available. WhatsApp often tests features gradually, adjusts them based on feedback, and sometimes delays or changes them before public rollout.

Final Thoughts

WhatsApp's "after reading" timer looks like a practical addition for users who want more flexible disappearing messages. It does not fully replace View Once messages, and it does not replace standard Disappearing Messages either. Instead, it creates a useful middle option where messages can remain available until opened, then disappear after a short selected period.

For users who prefer cleaner chats, more temporary conversations, or tighter control over how long certain messages stay visible, this could be a handy feature once it rolls out more widely. For now, it remains part of WhatsApp's beta testing, so regular users may still have to wait before seeing it in the stable app.