Meta’s messaging platform, WhatsApp, has introduced a new feature designed to streamline the process of finding specific messages within extensive chat histories. The ‘Search by Date’ capability enables users to search for messages according to particular dates, thereby enhancing their ability to retrieve previous conversations without the need for prolonged scrolling.
The launch of this feature was announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg through his WhatsApp channel. The ‘Search by Date’ functionality is available to all users globally across devices including Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and the Web. It was initially observed during beta testing in November 2023.
To utilize the ‘Search by Date’ feature, users must first open the relevant individual or group chat. Following this, they can access the three-dot menu on Android devices or tap on the contact or group name on iOS devices. Those who have updated the app to the latest version will see a calendar icon alongside the traditional search option. Once clicked, a pop-up calendar will appear, allowing users to choose their desired date.
For instance, if a user is looking for a message from October 20, 2023, they can simply select that date from the pop-up calendar. Once the date is confirmed, the chat will display messages exchanged on that day, while still allowing users to scroll through other messages in the chat. Without this new feature, retrieving specific messages would have required sifting through months of conversations.
