If you post a status update on WhatsApp, then yes, other people will be able to see it. WhatsApp statuses are visible to all your contacts by default. However, you do have some control over who can view your status through privacy settings.
How WhatsApp statuses work
When you post a photo, video, or text update as your WhatsApp status, it will be broadcast to all contacts in your address book who also use WhatsApp. Your contacts will see your status displayed at the top of their chat lists and on your profile page. They can tap on it to view the full status content.
Statuses are visible for 24 hours, then disappear. You can post multiple status updates within the 24-hour window, and your contacts will be able to swipe through them.
Controlling who sees your status
Even though your status goes out to all your WhatsApp contacts, you do have some control over who can view it:
- Privacy settings – In WhatsApp’s Privacy settings, you can choose to limit your status visibility to selected contacts only. You can also block specific contacts from seeing your status.
- Delete status – If you change your mind about a status, you can delete it at any time during the 24-hour window before it disappears. This will remove it for all your contacts.
- Location sharing – If you opt to share your location in your status, you can stop sharing at any time which will remove the location visibility.
Does the other person know if I’ve viewed their status?
WhatsApp does not notify users when someone views their status updates. So you can view someone’s status anonymously without them knowing.
However, there are a couple exceptions:
- If you reply to a photo/video status, the sender will know you’ve viewed it.
- If the status includes location sharing, it will notify the sender each time you view their shared location.
Troubleshooting status visibility issues
Sometimes your WhatsApp contacts may mention they can’t see your status updates. Here are some potential reasons and fixes:
- Privacy settings – Check that you don’t have that contact restricted in your status privacy settings.
- Outdated app – Make sure you and your contacts are running the latest version of WhatsApp. Older versions may not show statuses.
- Blocked contact – You won’t be able to see the status of any contacts you’ve blocked, and vice versa.
- Deleted contact – Deleting a contact on your phone will also remove you from their WhatsApp contact list.
- Phone off/offline – Statuses won’t deliver if the recipient’s phone is switched off or not connected to the internet.
What happens when you delete a status?
If you delete a status before the 24-hour expiration, here’s what happens:
- It disappears from your contacts’ chat lists immediately.
- If a contact is viewing your status at the moment you delete it, it will abruptly disappear from their view.
- Deleting does not delete it from contacts who have already viewed it during the 24-hour window.
- Any replies/reactions to that status from your contacts will remain in your WhatsApp chat history.
Can you tell how many people have viewed your status?
Unlike other social media platforms, WhatsApp does not show you any view counts or metrics on who has seen your status update.
This is by design for user privacy. WhatsApp does not want to encourage status updates being used for vanity metrics.
So no, there is no way to tell exactly how many people or which specific contacts have viewed your status. WhatsApp provides no data on status views.
Pro tips for using WhatsApp status
- Use statuses to share ephemeral moments with your close contacts rather than permanent posts.
- Keep personal and sensitive updates limited only to close friends through custom privacy settings.
- View someone’s status to show interest in them, but beware that replying/reacting will notify them.
- Check statuses regularly as they only last 24 hours and disappear after expiring.
- Statuses are a great alternative to SMS updates when you want to avoid bombarding contacts.
- Rotate through multiple status updates within 24 hours to share more without spamming.
- Delete embarrassing or unintended statuses immediately before too many contacts view them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my status completely from some contacts?
Yes, in your WhatsApp privacy settings you can customise who can see your status updates. Here you can select specific contacts to hide your status from entirely.
Do deleted statuses get removed from everyone’s chat list?
Yes, deleting a status before 24 hours removes it from all your contacts’ chat lists instantly. However, it does not remove it retroactively from users who already viewed the status while it was live.
Can contacts download my statuses?
No, WhatsApp does not allow users to download or save statuses. They are ephemeral and designed to disappear after 24 hours. However, users can take screenshots which may allow limited saving.
Can I post statuses without showing a live status indicator?
No, there is no way to post a WhatsApp status so it’s invisible in your contacts’ chat lists. Your profile pic ring will show as live when you have an active status.
How many status updates can I post within 24 hours?
You can post an unlimited number of text, photo, video and location updates as your status within the 24-hour window before expiration.