WhatsApp has virtually become a necessity for those addicted to smartphones. And this necessity gives no sign of relenting.

Millions of users the popular messaging app, but hardly a handful of users are aware of all the features that this app offers.

We will take a look at some of the least-discussed options in the app.

Enabling new typewriter font

To change the font of your WhatsApp messages, use the ` symbol three times either side of the word. For example, “`Hello“`.  The symbol – not to be mistaken with ‘ – is available on the Android keyboard, but isn’t on the standard iOS one. If you’re using an Apple device for WhatsApp you can copy and paste this “` and use it either side of the word.

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Send same message to multiple contacts

In the top left of the WhatsApp “Chats” screen there is a little-used feature called “Broadcast Lists”. This lets you send the same message to multiple contacts at once without them knowing, a bit like the “Bcc” button on emails.

Go to Chats -> Broadcast Lists -> New List -> add contacts and write out your message -> hit send. The message and their reply will appear in your private chat with each person, but with a little megaphone icon next to it.

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Send a giant heart

 

A giant, beating red heart will appear on the chat screen if you send it on its own.

 

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How to change font appearance

You can format the text in WhatsApp messages by adding symbols in front of and after words.

1- For bold add asterisks to either side of a word or sentence, e.g. *bold*

2- Italicise a message with underscores, e.g. _italics_

3- To strikethrough text add tildes, e.g. ~strikethrough~

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Who you talk to the most?

To find out who your best friends on WhatsApp are, if you have an iOS device, head to Settings -> Account -> Storage Usage. Here you’ll see a list of the people and groups you message on WhatsApp along with the total number of interactions you’ve had with that person/group.

 

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How to avoid group chats

If you have one or two group messages that are constantly abuzz, you can mute the chat for eight hours, a week or a year. Go into the chat, and tap the name of the group -> Mute -> select the amount of time. You can also mute notifications on one-to-one chats.

 

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Dealing with blue-tick ‘headache’

If you want to give yourself time to reply to a message on WhatsApp without the other person seeing the dreaded blue ticks, this trick will help. It lets you read a message without giving the game away.

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Way to protect your chat

Stop prying eyes from reading your messages by preventing the first line from appearing on your home screen. Go to Settings -> Notifications -> disable Show Preview.

You can also prevent nosy friends from happening on your chats by adding a password to WhatsApp through a third party app, such as AppLock for Android or iAppLock for iOS.