This enhancement aims to optimize the app’s search capabilities, providing users with a more efficient way to navigate extensive chat histories. With the ‘Search by Date’ feature, users can now pinpoint messages exchanged on specific dates, streamlining the process of retrieving valuable information from past conversations.
Announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his WhatsApp channel, the ‘Search by Date’ feature is now globally accessible across Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Web platforms. This sought-after addition, initially identified during beta testing in November 2023, promises a seamless experience for users worldwide.
To leverage this feature on WhatsApp, users should access the desired individual or group chat, initiating the search by tapping the three dots in the top right corner for Android or the contact/group name on iOS. Following the latest app update, a small calendar icon with a search symbol will appear after selecting the conventional Search option. Subsequently, a pop-up calendar empowers users to specify the desired date effortlessly.
For example, users seeking a message from October 20, 2023, can effortlessly navigate the pop-up calendar by date, month, and year. Once the date is chosen, the chat or group opens directly to messages from that day, allowing users to scroll seamlessly through the conversation. This feature eliminates the need for tedious scrolling through months of messages, providing a swift and user-friendly experience in just a few clicks.
In addition to this ground breaking search feature, WhatsApp has globally introduced four new text formatting options: bulleted points, numbered lists, block quotes, and inline quotes. These additions complement the existing formatting choices of bold, italic, strikethrough, and monospace, enhancing the overall messaging experience for users.
