WhatsApp status can be found at the top of the chat screen in the WhatsApp mobile app. Tap on your profile picture at the top to view your status, as well as the statuses of your contacts. You can also post new status updates consisting of text, photos, videos, and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours.
Viewing Your Own WhatsApp Status
To view your current WhatsApp status:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your mobile device.
- At the top of the Chats tab, tap on your profile picture.
- This will open your profile page, with your status displayed at the top below your name.
- If you have a status posted, it will appear here. Tap on it to view the full status.
- If you don’t have an active status, the area will say “Tap to add status update.”
Your current status remains visible to you and your WhatsApp contacts for 24 hours before disappearing. You can repost the same status indefinitely to keep it visible.
Viewing Contact Statuses
To view the statuses of your WhatsApp contacts:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
- At the top, tap on your profile picture.
- You will see a list of your contacts who have recently posted statuses under “Recent updates.”
- Tap on any contact name to view their full status.
Contact statuses operate on the same 24-hour expiry cycle as your own status. If a contact reposts their old status, it will reappear at the top of your Recent updates.
Posting a New WhatsApp Status
You can post a new WhatsApp status update containing text, photos, videos, or GIFs:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on your profile picture at the top of the Chats tab.
- Tap “My Status” > “Status” at the top.
- Type some text into the field, or tap the camera icon to take a photo/video for your status.
- You can customize the font and background color for text statuses.
- For visual statuses, you can add stickers, draw, add emoji, and crop the image.
- When ready, tap “Send” to post the status update.
Your status will now be visible to your WhatsApp contacts for 24 hours. You’ll see two ticks below your profile name when contacts view your status.
Editing and Deleting Your Status
While your status is active, you have the option to edit or delete it:
- Edit: Tap your profile picture > “My Status” > tap the status > Edit icon > make changes > “Send.”
- Delete: Tap your profile picture > “My Status” > tap the status > Delete icon > “Delete.”
Once your status expires, you can no longer edit or delete it. Your contacts will not be notified if you delete your status while it’s active.
Changing Who Can See Your Status
By default, your WhatsApp status is visible to all of your contacts. You can adjust the privacy settings to limit visibility:
- Tap the 3-dot Menu icon > Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Tap “Status” and select one of the options:
- My Contacts: Status visible only to your contacts.
- My Contacts Except: Hide status from specific contacts.
- Only Share With: Status visible only to contacts you select.
- Tap “OK” to save the settings.
You can change the status privacy settings at any time. New settings will apply to your next status update.
Disabling Read Receipts for Your Status
By default, WhatsApp shows you when contacts have viewed your status update. You can disable read receipts:
- Tap the 3-dot Menu > Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Disable the toggle for “Read Receipts.”
With read receipts off, you won’t see ticks below your name when contacts view your status. Recipients can still see if you’ve viewed their statuses.
Turning Off Status Updates
If you don’t want to use WhatsApp Status at all, you can disable it:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Turn off the setting for “Status.”
This will hide the Status tab entirely. You won’t be able to post status updates, and won’t see updates from others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I post multiple statuses at once?
No, WhatsApp only allows you to have one active status update at a time. Your previous status is replaced when you post a new one.
Do statuses notify my contacts?
No, posting a status will not send a notification to your contacts. They have to open WhatsApp and view your profile picture to see new statuses.
Can I see who viewed my status?
Yes, enabling read receipts will show ticks below your name when contacts view your status. Disable read receipts if you don’t want this.
Do contacts know if I screenshot their status?
No, WhatsApp does not notify users if you take a screenshot of their status. You can screenshot statuses without the contact knowing.
Can I post a status without having one visible?
No, you cannot post a status while having your “last seen” privacy set to “Nobody.” Your status visibility will change to “Contacts” if you post an update.
Do statuses use my mobile data?
Yes, viewing and sharing statuses will use your mobile data or WiFi data. Visual statuses like photos or videos can use more data.
Can I message someone from their status?
Yes, statuses have a “Reply” button that lets you respond privately via message to the status creator.
Do statuses disappear when I uninstall WhatsApp?
No, your existing status will still be visible to contacts if you uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp within 24 hours of posting it.