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    Beginner
    3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Use WhatsApp Status to Share Photos and Updates

    WhatsApp Status lets you share photos, videos, and text with your contacts that disappear after 24 hours — similar to stories on Facebook and Instagram.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Communication
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    whatsapp
    status
    stories
    photos
    sharing
    family

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Open the Updates tab in WhatsApp
    2. 2.Add a photo or video Status
    3. 3.Add a text-only Status
    4. 4.View your contacts' Statuses
    5. 5.Control who sees your Status
    1

    Open the Updates tab in WhatsApp

    ~15s
    Open WhatsApp. Tap the "Updates" tab at the bottom (on iPhone) or top (on Android). You'll see "Status" at the top of the screen with a "My Status" section and your contacts' statuses listed below.
    2

    Add a photo or video Status

    ~24s
    Tap the plus icon or the camera icon next to "My Status." This opens your phone's camera. Take a new photo or video, or tap the photo gallery icon to choose one from your library. Add a caption if you'd like, then tap Send (the green arrow).

    Quick Tip

    You can add text, stickers, or even draw on your photo before posting by using the editing tools that appear after you select your image.

    3

    Add a text-only Status

    ~15s
    Tap the pencil icon (text) instead of the camera. You'll see a colored background with a text field. Type your update. Tap the background icon to change the color or pattern behind your text. Tap Send when ready.
    4

    View your contacts' Statuses

    ~20s
    On the Updates tab, you'll see a list of contacts who have posted a Status in the last 24 hours. Tap any contact's name to watch their Status. Swipe left to go to the next status, or swipe right to replay the current one. You can react with an emoji by tapping the emoji icon, or reply privately in chat.
    5

    Control who sees your Status

    ~15s
    To manage your Status privacy, go to WhatsApp Settings (gear icon) > Privacy > Status. Choose "My Contacts," "My Contacts Except..." (to exclude specific people), or "Only Share With..." (to share with a limited group). Changes apply right away to all future statuses.

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    WhatsApp Status is a feature that lets you share photos, short videos, GIFs, or text updates with all your WhatsApp contacts at once — without sending individual messages to each person. Like Instagram and Facebook Stories, WhatsApp Status posts disappear after 24 hours.

    Your contacts can see your Status by tapping the Updates tab in WhatsApp. They'll see a colored ring around your profile picture to let them know you have a new status. They can view it, react with an emoji, or reply directly to you in a private chat.

    Status is a low-pressure way to share moments from your day. You can post a photo of your garden, a short video of a grandchild's performance, or just a text update like "Having a wonderful day in Florida!" — and anyone who has your number in their WhatsApp contacts can see it.

    You can also control who sees your Status. Go to Settings > Privacy > Status and choose from: "My Contacts" (everyone with your number), "My Contacts Except..." (exclude certain people), or "Only Share With..." (only specific people you choose). This gives you full control over your audience.

    Viewing your own posted Status and seeing who viewed it is also possible — tap your own Status ring and swipe up from the bottom to see who watched it. If you want to delete a Status before the 24 hours are up, tap and hold on it and choose "Delete."

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    whatsapp
    status
    stories
    photos
    sharing
    family

    Official Resources

    Zoom Help CenterApple FaceTime SupportWhatsApp Help

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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