WhatsApp is testing a new reminder feature for messages
It should let you set personal alerts on important chats so you don't unintentionally ghost.
WhatsApp's updates always leave me asking, “Why didn’t we have this before?"
In its latest beta version, WhatsApp seems to be testing a message-based reminders feature, something that’s deceptively simple but has the potential to change how many of us use the app daily. This new feature, they say, could help you set personal alerts on specific messages, so important tasks, events, or ideas never get lost.
Unlike Telegram’s long-standing message scheduler, which lets you send messages at a future time, WhatsApp’s “Remind Me” feature feels more personal and reflective of how people manage their day-to-day lives.
If someone, for example, sends you a message about anything, instead of it getting buried beneath the flood of new messages, you can now long-press that message, tap a bell icon, and choose to be reminded in 2 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, or at a custom time. When the time comes, WhatsApp sends you a full alert so you can jump right back in.
The company adds that it’s entirely private. No one else in the chat knows you've set a reminder, not even WhatsApp itself. The reminders are stored locally on your device and work quietly in the background. You can set multiple reminders across different chats, or even on messages to yourself.
As of now, this new feature is only available to Android beta testers (version 2.25.21.14), but a broader rollout is expected soon. While Telegram has leaned into power-user tools like bots, folders, and scheduled sends, WhatsApp’s approach has been about making daily communication more intuitive. Adding a simple way to be nudged about what matters feels completely aligned with that.
For those of us who find it difficult to respond to messages immediately, this seemingly small feature can have a big impact.
Louis Eriakha
