How do I change my chat settings?

Per-chat options live in the chat's details, opened from the header of any conversation. There you can mute notifications, set a nickname, change the chat wallpaper, see shared media, clear the history, block the person, or delete the chat. Who can message you, read receipts, and similar account-wide options live in Settings, then Privacy.

There are two layers to chat settings: options for one specific conversation, and account-wide options that apply to all your messaging. Here is where each one is.

Settings for one conversation

Open a conversation and tap its header (the name or photo at the top) to open the chat details. From there you can:

• Mute notifications for that chat, so it stops pinging you without leaving it.
• Set a nickname for the other person that only you see.
• Change the wallpaper (chat background) from a set of built-in backgrounds or your own uploaded image.
• Browse shared media: photos, videos, files, links, and voice messages exchanged in that chat.
• Clear the chat history on your device.
• Block the other person.
• Delete the chat.

For a group, the same header opens Group Info, where admins can also rename the group, change its photo, manage members, and restrict posting to admins.

Account-wide messaging settings

Options that apply to all your chats live in Settings. The main ones are under Privacy:

• Receive messages: who is allowed to start a conversation with you (Everyone, or only people you follow or who follow you).
• Message requests: whether people with no connection can send you a request at all.
• Read receipts: whether you send and see the blue read ticks. Turning this off is mutual.
• Blocked users: review and unblock people you have blocked.

Changing the wallpaper in a one-to-one chat changes it just for that chat. In a group, only the group creator can change the group's background.