WhatsApp's New 'Silent' And 'Vacation' Modes Will Help You Avoid All Those Annoying Group Chats

WhatsApp groups can be really annoying, especially when you're part of one filled with your older family members all sharing "good morning" motivational posters. Thankfully, WhatsApp might soon release features to let you avoid them entirely.

The new features were spotted by WABetaInfo in the latest version of the beta app. The first is called silent mode, which lets you turn off all notifications on WhatsApp, without having to mess with your phone's notification settings. It hides notification badges on the app icon, so you're group messages can be accruing without you having to look at the increasing number on your home screen. It's already begun rolling out to Android and iOS should follow soon. Be warned, the feature is enabled by default.

The next tool being tested is vacation mode, which keeps your muted archived chats out of sight, even if you receive a new message there. Previously, archived group chats that were muted would reappear in your conversation list if someone there sent you new text, even if not specifically to you.

Just consider all the WhatsApp-obsessed family members you never have to think about again! This new feature isn't out yet, but it should make its way to both iOS and Android in the next few months. When it does, you'll be able to find it in your app's notification settings.