Billions of WhatsApp users gain important new feature that’s key to finding old messages in group chats

WHATSAPP users have been given a new way to find old messages – so you can always find what you need, when you need it.

This is especially helpful for users who have ancient group chats, where trawling through years worth of messages takes too long.

MetaThe feature is already available on iOS, Mac desktop and WhatsApp Web[/caption]

The Meta-owned messenger has added a function that lets users search for messages by date.

Using a calendar, users can simply choose a date and skip to all messages sent from that date onwards.

According to Meta, it’s ideal for revisiting a message that made you smile, or double checking when you sent information to someone.

It’s also compatible with media, links and docs inside your chats.

So if you’re wanting to find an old photo, simply click into any chat, tap the contact or group name at the top, and click ‘Search’ to choose which date you’d like to skip to.

The feature is already available on iOS, Mac desktop and WhatsApp Web.

But it has been rolling out now on Android devices this week.

You may need to update your app to be able to use it.

Third-party chats overhaul

The new feature comes ahead of a significant shake-up that will allow other messaging networks inside WhatsApp later this month.

Thanks to new laws set out by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), WhatsApp users should expect to see a new inbox option landing in their app sometime in March.

Inside the DMA is a raft of new laws that tech companies will have to bow to in order to continue operating in the bloc.

One of these new laws mean tech apps, such as Meta-owned WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, are not allowed to be ‘gatekeeper services’.

So-called ‘gatekeeper services’ are apps that can only be used with other people with the same app.

Therefore apps need to be interoperable with other messaging apps under the new rules.

This applies to all messenger apps, including iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, and Signal.

In practice, a WhatsApp user will be able to send a text to a Facebook Messenger user – and vice versa – without having to use the other app.

It will be on an opt-in basis, and messages will appear in a separate inbox.

Although there is concern this could put users at higher risk of scams.