WhatsApp Will Let You Set Your About Status for a Set Period of Time#
September 22, 2025
WhatsApp is returning to an idea it developed over two years ago! The latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android 2.25.21.17 revealed that the company has resumed work on a feature that allows you to set the “About Me” status for a certain period of time!
Contents#
What does it mean and how does it work#
In a future update, users will be able to set a temporary text status that will automatically disappear from their profile after a set amount of time.
The About section is a short note that appears on your profile, often used to express a phrase, a mood, or a current activity. In an upcoming update, this section will support expiration options, so any text you add can be set to automatically disappear after a certain duration of your choosing.
In addition to appearing on your profile page, the new status will also appear directly in the conversation header, specifically in the top bar of the app under the contact's name, making it much more visible to the people you're chatting with.
Why do you need it#
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More control over profile information. Users will have more flexibility in managing the information that appears on their profile.
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Information freshness. This feature will help avoid outdated or irrelevant details being shared on their accounts.
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Ability to change status more often. Users will feel freer to change their “About” status, knowing that it will automatically disappear after a set period.
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More visible status. Placing your status in the conversation header will make it more noticeable to your contacts.
Compared to an early development spotted over two years ago, the current draft shows a richer set of expiration options, and WhatsApp is even working on a custom expiration option that will allow users to choose a personalized period of time instead of sticking to preset durations. This flexibility is especially useful when users only want the status to be active during a specific event or situation, such as a weekend trip, a limited-time sale, or while attending a conference, after which it will disappear without any manual effort on their part.
Features#
It’s important to note that only contacts who have permission to do so via the user’s privacy settings will be able to view this temporary status. This design ensures that updates remain visible only to selected contacts, while maintaining full control over who has access to the information.
This feature was first spotted over two years ago but never released. This often happens when WhatsApp isn’t sure if a feature will provide real value to users or feels it needs more options before a potential release. In these cases, WhatsApp will typically shelve the idea until it can be reviewed and refined for a future update.
An updated About feature with the ability to set a disappearing status is in the works and will be available in a future update. We’ll keep you updated as soon as we have more details about this feature.
Conclusion#
The ability to set the “About Me” status for a certain period is a useful addition that will give users more control over their information in WhatsApp, help keep their profile up to date, and make the status more visible to interlocutors. We at GREEN-API follow the news and will inform you about all the significant news in WhatsApp, follow our blog.