WhatsApp reportedly releases iOS 26.19.10.72 update for beta testers; includes a new feature that makes new messages disappear after they are read

By Estuti Bajpai Published on May 16, 2026, 12:13 IST

Last month, it was reported that WhatsApp had released a new beta update for Android users that includes a feature that gives users more control over disappearing messages, as users can make their messages disappear once the recipient reads them.

According to a report by @WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is releasing the iOS 26.19.10.72 update for beta testers on iOS, available on the TestFlight app. With this update, the company is said to be rolling out a feature that makes new messages disappear after they are read.

Previously disappearing messages allow users to send messages that WhatsApp automatically deletes after a set period of time. Users could choose between three timer options: 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.

With the new update, users will get the new “After reading” option as seen in the above image. When users choose this option, they can opt to make their messages disappear once they’re read. They can choose whether their messages disappear 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 12 hours after the recipient reads them. Although unread messages always disappear after 24 hours by default.

For example, if you send a message and set it to disappear after reading with a 5-minute timer, the message will be deleted from the sender’s side 5 minutes after it is sent (does not matter if the receiver has opened the message or not). Meanwhile, once the receiver views the message, a 5-minute countdown starts on their device, and then after 5 minutes, the message is deleted.

The “After reading” option should be selected manually by the users. It is reported that the new timer can also be applied on a per-chat basis.

This new feature is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS update from TestFlight. A limited number of users may also be able to test the feature even through the version available on the App Store.

It is said that over the coming weeks, WhatsApp will expand access to more users.