WhatsApp allows you to reply to messages specifically or mention someone in groups. Starring is also possible, making navigating through messages a breeze.
However, one of the challenges that some users face is finding starred messages. This article explains how to find starred messages in WhatsApp.
How to Find Starred Messages on Different Operating Systems
Messages containing important information like addresses can be starred so they can be retrieved when needed. Such a message could be amongst hundreds of messages, but you can find it easily when starred. Trying to find information without knowing its specific location can be frustrating. When you feel a message is important, starring it can save you time.
Finding All-Starred Messages on iOS
If you’re are using iOS, you can find starred messages in two ways.
Find All Messages
All starred messages on the app are kept together. This is how to find them:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap on “Settings.” This is in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Tap “Starred Messages,” and they will appear in the form of a list.
Find Starred Messages in a Chat
If the results of all-starred messages are too big, you can still work with individual chats. These are the steps to follow on iOS:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap the target chat with the message you’re looking for.
- Tap the contact name.
- Tap “Starred Messages.” This opens all starred messages on the chat.
Finding Starred Messages on Android
You can find starred messages using an Android phone in two ways.
Find all Starred Messages
WhatsApp stores starred messages in a single place, making them easier to find on your smartphone.
- Tap the three dots/kebab menu.
- Tap “Starred Messages” to view all messages starred on WhatsApp.
Find the Messages from a Chat
If you know where the starred message is located, you can search the chat instead. This is a good idea if you have too many starred messages from different chats. On Android, do the following:
- Tap the contact chat featuring the starred messages.
- Tap the contact name.
- Tap “Starred Messages.”
This allows you to find all-starred messages on the chat in one list.
Finding WhatsApp Starred Messages on the Web
In this case, there are two ways to find your starred messages using the WhatsApp web version.
Find All Starred Messages
The following steps help you find all messages that are starred in your chats using the web version of WhatsApp.
- Click the three dots/ kebab menu.
- Click “Starred Messages” found in the drop-down menu.
This allows you to view all the starred messages on the web version of WhatsApp in one place. Now you can find the target message with ease.
Find Messages from a Chat on WhatsApp Web
Starred messages can be accessed from an individual chat on the web version of WhatsApp.
- Click on the chat with the starred message.
- Click on the contact name to see their details.
- Click “Starred Messages” on the info page. All the starred messages will appear.
If the conversation you selected has many starred messages, you need to scroll down and try to locate it by date. This option is easy to use compared to scrolling through an entire conversation.
Starring Messages
On WhatsApp, some starred messages may have sentimental value. Starring them provides quick access and ensures the messages don’t get lost among others. If you feel that a message isn’t valid anymore, you can choose to unstar it. Here’s what you need to:
- Select the target conversation.
- Tap the message you intend to start and then hold.
- Once highlighted, find the star icon at the top of your screen and tap. Your message will be starred.
After the message is starred, it will be among other starred messages when you search. Removing a message from the list is simple:
- Select the conversation you want to remove.
- Tap “Starred Messages” and look for the target message on the list.
- Tap the message and hold to highlight and tap the star icon with a line cutting through it.
This removes the starred message from the list.
Forwarding Starred Messages
You can forward starred messages on Android and iOS. On WhatsApp, however, there’s a limit on the number of people you can forward the message to. This is applicable on all platforms. WhatsApp set this limit to reduce spam.
Forward Messages on iOS
- Follow the steps given to find starred messages on iOS.
- Tap the forward button, which is next to the target message.
- Tap the circle to pick the contact you want to forward to and tap forward
If the starred message isn’t a link or media but a text, you have to long press and then tap the forward option.
Forwarding Starred Messages on Android
- Find starred messages using the methods mentioned above. You may have to long press in case the message is a text, to select and find the forward option.
- Tap on the forward button next to the message.
- On the following screen, select the target contact and then tap send, which is in the bottom right. The message will be forwarded.
Forwarding Starred Messages on Web
- By following the steps above, find starred messages on the web version of the app.
- Click the down arrow over the target starred message.
- From the menu, click “Forward Message.”
- This opens a pop-up window. Select your contact, click the send button, and the messages will be sent.
Important Things to Note About Starred WhatsApp Messages
The sender can delete a starred message. If this happens, the starred message won’t appear on the list.
There are WhatsApp users who activate disappearing messages. If you start such a message, it will be available until the set time elapses. The message disappears when the time is over. Starring a message doesn’t mean it can’t be deleted.
“View Once” messages are common on WhatsApp. Such messages can’t be starred. They disappear after they are viewed.
Keep Track of All-Starred Messages
Regardless of how you use WhatsApp, you can keep track of all important and sentimental messages through starring. The above steps help you find starred messages no matter what the gadget you use. Starred messages help you organize things better, even when you have thousands of messages on your phone.
Have you ever struggled to find a message on WhatsApp? Did you use the any of the starred options to remedy the problem? Tell us in the comments section below.
