Sick of WhatsApp? Go invisible without deleting it

Twitter, Facebook or Snapchat allows you to log out and go invisible to have some 'me time', this feature is still missing in WhatsApp. As long as you have it on your smartphone you can't get rid of it. If you are still planning to go "invisible" on WhatsApp, there is no other option other than deleting it. It is a tedious job to delete and reinstall WhatsApp every time you wish to go invisible.

Whether you switch off 'Blue tick read receipts' or not, the sender will get to know whether you have read the message or not, as you open WhatsApp, you are shown as 'Online' to your contacts. Officially, there is not a one-tap way to silence WhatsApp for your choice of a time period.

Here are some tips with which you can go "invisible" without deleting it from your phone.

1) "Record silence" and set it as WhatsApp ringtone

WhatsApp doesn't have an option where you can select 'No Ringtone' for messages or calls. You need to select a ringtone by default. Still, if you want to silence it then you have to put your mobile on silent mode. The simplest hack is to create your own silent ringtone. Record pin-drop silence for 2 seconds by using your audio recorder app and save it with name 'silent ringtone'. Open WhatsApp > Settings > Notifications. Select 'silent ringtone' as your call and notification tone.

2) Disable WhatsApp notifications for new messages

Go to your WhatsApp app, choose settings, select Notifications, now disable all notifications for WhatsApp. You will find In-App Notifications, tap on that and disable vibration and popups as well. Now, you will not receive any notifications for the new messages unless and until you purposely open WhatsApp.

3) Disable notification light for WhatsApp

This is very easy. Open WhatsApp > Settings > Notifications > Light. Select 'none'. Just remove the WhatsApp shortcut from your home screen. If you follow these steps, you will get WhatsApp messages in the background but you will never come to know about them. No more disturbance from the WhatsApp notifications tone. To see any WhatsApp messages you need to open WhatsApp inside the app menu and then check.

4) Prevent WhatsApp from using mobile data

Under the general Android settings go to your phone settings and then go to Apps; Open list of Apps and choose WhatsApp. Then tap on 'Force Stop'.

5) Disable background data access to WhatsApp

In the Data, option disable 'Background data' and revoke all app permissions for WhatsApp. Without uninstalling it this will 'kill' WhatsApp altogether. You will continue getting messages the moment you open WhatsApp but now you know how to ignore them.

6) Don't open WhatsApp after you click "Force Stop"

If you don't want the sender of the messages to know that you read the message or get a "Double Tick" simply don't open WhatsApp after you click 'Force Stop' from your phone settings.