New 'Vanish Mode' in Messenger and Instagram Enables Disappearing Chats - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

New 'Vanish Mode' in Messenger and Instagram Enables Disappearing Chats

Facebook's Messenger and Instagram apps are getting a new "vanish mode" feature that gives users a new way to chat using disappearing messages.

messenger disappearing messages
Disappearing messages can already be used in Messenger's "secret conversation" feature, but they require several steps and users have to set a timer to make the messages disappear.

However, the new "vanish mode" is enabled by simply swiping up in a chat, after which messages disappear after they're seen, and if the recipient takes a screenshot of the conversation, the sender will be notified.

Accessing the new mode in Instagram requires that users accept Facebook's offer to integrate Messenger features into Instagram's in-app chat.

Facebook recently rolled out a new disappearing messages feature to all WhatsApp users on iOS and Android, allowing messages, photos, and videos to be marked to disappear after seven days.

Vanish mode is available to Messenger users in the U.S. now and Facebook says the feature will expand to additional countries, and to Instagram, "soon."

(Via Engadget.)

Popular Stories

Instagram Feature 2

Instagram Now Lets You Edit Comments for Up to 15 Minutes

Thursday April 9, 2026 1:31 pm PDT by
Instagram today implemented a small but useful change, allowing Instagram users to edit their comments for up to 15 minutes after writing the initial comment. The Meta-owned social media site has long supported editing an Instagram post, but comments have never been able to be updated to correct typos. Editing a comment can be done by tapping on the new "Edit" option that is displayed after...
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
iOS 27 on iPhone 17 1

iOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday May 2, 2026 8:43 am PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, and there are already many rumored features and changes for iPhones. The first developer beta of iOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in...

Top Rated Comments

djcerla Avatar
72 months ago
On my phone, Facebook is in Vanish Mode since 2017.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brett_x Avatar
72 months ago
"Vanish".. well for end users anyway. I'm sure Facebook keeps the data for themselves (and their advertisers).
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sebosz Avatar
72 months ago
It’s 2020 and people still feel the irresistible need to inform everybody that they don’t use/hate Facebook whenever it’s mentioned? Okay, we get it, you’re so cool and safe.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TwoBytes Avatar
72 months ago
This should be relabelled vanished for the user, kept by Facebook.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brett_x Avatar
72 months ago
This brings up a gripe of mine. Who's business is it if I take a screenshot on my phone? MINE and Nobody else's. Nobody should be informed if/when I take a screenshot. I'm really surprised Apple lets Facebook and others (I think Snapchat started this) to have this feature. I'm relatively sure it could be restricted through API's. It's a privacy thing, so Apple should take the lead.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PinkyMacGodess Avatar
72 months ago

This should be relabelled vanished for the user, kept by Facebook.
I'm sure they wouldn't hesitate to use any of that treasure trove to embarrass or threaten a famous person they don't like.

Facebook was started by an immature college student to shame and punish people in his clique they didn't like. It really hasn't grown up from that infantile start. Zuckerberg needs to go. I've been involved with two 'mom and pop' companies that made it big. They reach a point where the expansion is either stopped, or the company goes in a bad direction.

One company had to have a painful 'intervention' for the employees to wrest control of the company from an owner that kept sabotaging their merger process with a larger company.

Zuckerberg needs to step aside, or be pushed aside, for the good of the company and their users.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Mac Mini | Politics | Check Who Using Iphone Hotspot Data | Make Homepod Alert You To Smoke Alarms | Apple Vision Pro