Little-known WhatsApp feature lets users jump straight to old messages by date
WhatsApp has a lesser-known search tool that lets users jump directly to messages sent on a specific date within a chat, eliminating the need to scroll manually through months or years of history. The feature works slightly differently on Android and iPhone.
Anyone who has tried to find an old message, photo or document in a WhatsApp chat knows how tedious it can be to scroll back through months or even years of conversation. WhatsApp, however, includes a feature that makes this much easier by allowing users to jump directly to messages sent on a chosen date within a specific chat.
The tool is particularly useful when a user remembers roughly when a conversation took place but cannot recall the exact wording used, making a text-based search ineffective.
How to use it
On Android, users should open the relevant chat, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner, and select "Search." In the search window, tapping the calendar icon opens options to choose the desired date, month and year; confirming the selection takes the user directly to that point in the conversation.
On iPhone, the process differs slightly. Users open the chat, tap the contact or group name at the top of the screen, and select "Search." From there, tapping the calendar icon and choosing a date, followed by "Go to date," brings the user straight to the chosen period in the conversation.
When it comes in handy
The feature is useful for locating an older exchange about a meeting, trip, address or purchase when the exact words used can no longer be recalled. It can also be used to search for photos, videos, documents and other files sent on a specific date. WhatsApp's search function additionally allows filtering content by type, including links, GIFs, audio and documents.
So instead of endlessly scrolling through an old chat hoping to stumble upon the right message, users can rely on the small calendar icon in the search menu to save considerable time.
