A link you want to open later, a photo you want to move from your phone to your laptop, or a quick shopping list: in WhatsApp you simply send it to yourself. Your own chat works as a personal notepad. It works for everyone on Android, iPhone, WhatsApp Web and the desktop app. Here's how to use it.
Start a chat with yourself
- Open WhatsApp on your phone, in the desktop app or in WhatsApp Web.
- Tap or click New chat.
- Choose your own name at the very top of the list, marked (You). If you don't see it, search for your name or your own phone number.
- Type your message and tap Send.
Your own chat now appears among your other conversations and syncs across all your linked devices.
Handy tips
- Pin it: press and hold the chat (or right-click it) and choose Pin. That keeps it at the top.
- Move files: send photos, PDFs or voice memos to yourself and open them on your PC in the desktop app.
- Forward messages: forward an important message from another chat to yourself to keep it.
- Star messages: star (or save, depending on your version) messages to find them quickly.
- Search: use the search in the chat to find old notes.
Good to know
Your chat with yourself is end-to-end encrypted too. Still, don't store passwords or other sensitive data there. A password manager is better for that.
And in Microsoft Teams?
Working mostly in Microsoft 365? Then your chat with yourself in Teams is a good alternative for work notes and files, which stay inside your organization.
Also see how to chat with yourself in Microsoft Teams and 12 tips for WhatsApp Web and the desktop app.
Read also
How to chat with yourself in Microsoft Teams
WhatsApp Web and the desktop app: 12 tips and tricks
Install WhatsApp on your Windows PC or Mac (or use Teams?)
Nederlandstalige versie: Zo stuur je berichten naar jezelf in WhatsApp