WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app in the world, has introduced a new feature that allows users to search for messages by date. The feature, which is currently available for beta testers, is expected to roll out to all users soon. The search by date feature is an extension of the existing chat search feature, which lets users search for text, media, links, and documents within a chat. The search by date feature adds a calendar icon to the search bar, which enables users to select a specific date and scroll through the messages from that day. The feature is useful for finding old messages, photos, videos, or files, without having to scroll through the entire chat history.

How to Access the Search by Date Feature

The search by date feature is not yet available for all users, but only for those who have enrolled in the WhatsApp beta program. The beta program allows users to test new features and provide feedback before they are released to the public. Users who want to join the beta program can do so by following these steps:

For Android users, go to the Google Play Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap on the app and scroll down to the bottom of the page. Tap on the “Join” button under the “Become a beta tester” section. Wait for a few minutes until you see the “You’re a beta tester” message. Update the app to the latest version.
For iOS users, go to the TestFlight app and install it on your device. Open the app and tap on the “Continue” button. Tap on the “Redeem” button and enter this code: 3Q6ZC6P7WF. Tap on the “Redeem” button again and then tap on “Install”. Update the app to the latest version.

Once you have updated the app to the beta version, you can access the search by date feature by following these steps:

Open WhatsApp and go to any individual or group chat.
Tap on the magnifying glass icon on the top right corner (Android) or the bottom right corner (iOS) to access the chat search feature.
Tap on the calendar icon on the right side of the search bar to open the calendar interface.
Select the date you want to search for and tap on the “OK” button.
WhatsApp will automatically scroll the chat to the messages from that date. You can also enter some keywords in the search bar to narrow down the results.

How to Use the Search by Date Feature Effectively

The search by date feature can be very helpful for finding old messages, photos, videos, or files, without having to scroll through the entire chat history. However, there are some limitations and tips to keep in mind when using the feature, such as:

The feature will not search for anything that has been deleted by the user or disappeared because of the disappearing messages mode. If you want to keep your messages for longer, you can change the settings in the chat info menu.
The feature will only search for messages within a single chat, not across all chats. If you want to search for something across all chats, you can use the global search feature, which is accessible from the main screen of the app.
The feature will only search for messages from the selected date, not before or after. If you want to search for messages from a range of dates, you can use the advanced search feature, which is accessible by tapping on the three dots icon on the top right corner (Android) or the “Filter” icon on the top left corner (iOS) of the chat search screen.
The feature will only show the messages from the selected date in chronological order, not in relevance order. If you want to see the most relevant messages first, you can use the sort by feature, which is accessible by tapping on the “AZ” icon on the top right corner (Android) or the “Sort” icon on the top right corner (iOS) of the chat search screen.

Conclusion

WhatsApp’s new search by date feature is a useful addition to the chat search feature, which allows users to search for messages by date. The feature is currently available for beta testers, and is expected to roll out to all users soon. The feature enables users to select a specific date and scroll through the messages from that day, without having to scroll through the entire chat history. The feature is helpful for finding old messages, photos, videos, or files, but it also has some limitations and tips to keep in mind.