---
title: "Enabling Disappearing Messages"
slug: "enabling-disappearing-messages"
updated: 2026-05-12T09:41:54Z
published: 2026-05-12T09:41:54Z
canonical: "docs.smarsh.com/enabling-disappearing-messages"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smarsh.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Enabling Disappearing Messages

> **Applicable to End Users**

The Disappearing Messages feature in Signal Capture allows you manage messages and keep your message history tidy. When this feature is enabled, sent and received, disappears from your devices after the timer has elapsed. All disappearing messages have a timer countdown icon displayed at the bottom of the message bubble.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-imwpi9bo.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D)

The timer starts as follows:

- For a sent disappearing message, the timer starts after you have sent the message.
- For a received disappearing message, the timer starts after you have read the message.

To enable disappearing messages:

1. Open the application.
2. Tap the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-yu8mecm6.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D)icon **> Settings > Privacy**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-co8epsyi.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D) > ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-prjf6578.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D) > ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-lmx2y19w.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D)
3. Under **Disappearing Messages**, tap **Default timer for new chats**.

> **Note**
> 
> By default, the disappearing messages timer is set to **Off** and messages are always displayed in the conversation thread.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-ext8mzf4.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D)
4. Set the disappearing message timer. You can set the timer between 30 seconds and four weeks. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-ifedfepv.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D)You can set a custom time in terms of seconds, minutes, hours, weeks, and days. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-a4p7nk56.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D)
5. Tap **Save**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/enabling-disappearing-messages-image-icaqf59l.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A12%3A33Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A12%3A33Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=NHdzB2rm4NGIUjvaQXtz1bBW7mjKpUYZJFVwEyRGb%2B0%3D)