TL;DR
BatChat’s disappearing messages (阅后即焚) can be enabled per chat by tapping the lock icon next to the input field. Timer options range from 3 seconds to 30 minutes. Once the recipient reads the message, it self-destructs on both devices. There is no recovery. BatChat also sends screenshot notifications when someone captures a burn message. The feature works in both one-on-one and group chats.
What Are BatChat Disappearing Messages?
BatChat (蝙蝠聊天) disappearing messages, known in Chinese as 阅后即焚, are messages that automatically delete themselves after the recipient reads them. The deletion happens on both the sender’s and receiver’s devices simultaneously — not just one side.
This is different from a standard message delete. With a normal delete, the sender removes a message from the conversation. With disappearing messages, the message self-destructs based on a timer that starts when the recipient opens it. No manual action is required from either party.
The feature is designed as an extra layer on top of BatChat’s end-to-end encryption. Even though messages are encrypted in transit, disappearing messages ensure nothing lingers on the device after reading.
How to Enable Disappearing Messages in BatChat
Step-by-step for one-on-one chats
- Open the BatChat app and navigate to the chat conversation where you want disappearing messages enabled
- Look at the left side of the text input field — you will see a lock icon (锁形状图标)
- Tap the lock icon to open the security settings menu (安全设置菜单)
- Find the “阅后即焚” toggle and slide it to the right to enable
The lock icon is the same entry point for other privacy features including screenshot notifications (截屏通知) and bidirectional delete (双向删除). Many first-time users miss this icon because it is small and located at the edge of the input field.
The setting applies only to the current chat window. Enabling disappearing messages with one contact does not affect your conversations with other contacts. Each chat has its own independent toggle.
Alternative method for some versions
In some BatChat versions, particularly older builds, the disappearing messages toggle is located in the chat settings page:
- Enter the chat conversation
- Tap the ”…” menu in the top-right corner
- Find “阅后即焚” in the chat settings
- Toggle it on
If you cannot find the lock icon in either location, check that your BatChat installation is updated to the latest version. The developer, Chengdu Feifu Technology (成都飞蝠科技有限公司), has moved UI elements between versions, and interface layouts differ between Android and iOS builds.
What Timer Options Are Available?
After enabling disappearing messages, a time slider appears in the same settings panel. The range is:
- Minimum: 3 seconds — for verification codes, temporary links, and highly sensitive text
- Default useful range: 10 seconds to 1 minute — for normal private conversations
- Maximum: 30 minutes — for longer content like work documents or detailed instructions
The timer starts when the recipient opens the message, not when it is sent. This is a meaningful distinction — a message sent at 2:00 PM that is not opened until 5:00 PM will begin its countdown at 5:00 PM.
You can change the timer for each individual message before sending it. Send one message at 5 seconds, then adjust to 30 seconds for the next message. The flexibility lets you match the timer to the sensitivity level of each piece of content rather than locking yourself into one setting.
Timer recommendations by use case
- Verification codes and one-time passwords: 3 seconds
- Casual private conversation: 10-15 seconds
- Business discussions with sensitive figures: 30-60 seconds
- Detailed instructions or multi-paragraph content: 1-5 minutes
- Reference material the recipient needs time to study: 30 minutes
How to Tell if Someone Read Your Disappearing Message
BatChat uses visual indicators in the message bubble to communicate delivery and read status for disappearing messages:
- Single eye icon (单眼图标): The message has been delivered to the recipient’s device but has not been opened yet
- Double eye icon (双眼图标): The recipient has opened the message — the countdown timer is now running
- Message disappears: The timer has expired, and the message has been deleted from both devices
This status tracking is visible only to the sender. The recipient sees the message content (hidden behind a burn overlay until tapped) and the active countdown, but not the delivery icon from their perspective.
What Happens When Someone Takes a Screenshot?
BatChat includes a screenshot notification system for disappearing messages. If the recipient takes a screenshot while a disappearing message is visible:
- The sender receives an immediate system notification saying something like “对方截取了阅后即焚消息” (The recipient captured a disappearing message)
- The notification appears in the chat conversation itself, not as a push notification
BatChat also blocks screen recording on certain device models when the disappearing message overlay is active. This adds a layer of protection beyond just notification.
Limitations of screenshot protection
No messaging app can prevent every form of physical capture:
- Second phone camera: If someone photographs the screen with another device, no software can detect or prevent this
- Physical notes: The recipient can write down or memorize content before the timer expires
- Modified OS: On rooted Android devices or jailbroken iPhones, system-level screenshot protections may be bypassed
The practical takeaway: disappearing messages reduce the risk of casual or accidental leaks, but they are not a guarantee against a determined recipient who wants to preserve the content. Use disappearing messages with people you trust, and never send information through any messaging app that you could not tolerate being exposed.
Do Disappearing Messages Work in Group Chats?
Yes. BatChat’s disappearing messages function works in group chats (群聊) as well. The same lock icon and timer interface are available in group conversation windows.
In a group context:
- Each member who opens the message triggers their own independent countdown
- The message disappears from each member’s device after their individual timer expires
- Screenshot notifications are sent to the message sender, not to all group members
- The group admin cannot override or disable an individual member’s disappearing message timer
One practical consideration: in large groups (BatChat supports up to 50,000 members per group), disappearing messages are mainly useful for announcements or content the sender wants to prevent from accumulating in chat history. Most group chat activity does not benefit from disappearing messages because the conversation is inherently public within the group.
Can You Recover a Disappearing Message?
No. Once the timer expires and the message is deleted, it cannot be recovered by either the sender or the recipient. There is no “undo” button, no archive, and no server-side backup.
BatChat’s architecture enforces this at multiple levels:
- Local deletion: The app removes the message from device memory and local storage
- Server-side: BatChat states it maintains zero server data storage (服务器零数据存储), so no copy exists on their infrastructure
- No cloud backup: Even if the user has enabled chat backup, disappearing messages are excluded from backup data
The one scenario where a message might temporarily persist longer than expected:
- If the recipient opens the message and then immediately loses network connectivity, the deletion command may be delayed until the network is restored. However, the message content is still encrypted and stored only on the local device during this window.
Common Problems and Fixes
Disappearing messages are not auto-deleting
Check app versions first. Both the sender and recipient need to be running compatible BatChat versions. Version mismatches can cause timer synchronization failures.
Verify the message was actually opened. If the recipient only sees the message preview in the notification bar without entering the chat, the timer does not start. The burn trigger requires the recipient to tap and open the message inside the chat interface.
Check power-saving mode. Some Android manufacturers aggressively kill background processes when power-saving is active. This can freeze the countdown timer. The fix is to:
- Disable battery optimization for BatChat in system settings
- Grant BatChat permission for background activity and auto-start
- On Xiaomi/Huawei/Oppo devices, additionally lock the app in the recent apps tray
Manual deletion is available. If a specific message fails to auto-delete, long-press the message and select “手动销毁” (manual destroy) to force immediate deletion.
I cannot find the lock icon
The lock icon’s position has changed across BatChat versions. In the current version (v3.4.x as of 2026), it is at the left edge of the input field. In some older builds, it was accessed through the ”+” extension menu or the top-right ”…” settings. Update the app through the official website or your platform’s app store if the icon is missing.
Timer seems inaccurate
The timer is calculated locally on each device. Minor discrepancies of 1-2 seconds between sender and recipient deletion times are normal and caused by network latency in the sync signal. This does not indicate a security problem.
How BatChat Disappearing Messages Compare to Other Apps
| Feature | BatChat | Signal | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timer range | 3s - 30min | 1s - 4 weeks | 1s - 1 week | 1s - 7 days |
| Per-message timer | Yes | No (per chat) | No (per chat) | No (per chat) |
| Screenshot notification | Yes | No | No | No |
| Screen recording block | Yes (select devices) | No | No | No |
| Server-side storage | None claimed | None | Optional | Optional |
| Group chat support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
BatChat’s standout advantage is the per-message timer flexibility — most competitors apply a single timer to the entire chat, while BatChat lets you adjust the countdown for each individual message. The screenshot notification and screen recording blocking are also uncommon features among encrypted messaging apps.
Who Should Use Disappearing Messages?
Disappearing messages are useful for:
- Legal and medical professionals discussing sensitive client information
- Journalists communicating with confidential sources
- Business negotiations where proposal details should not be archived
- Personal conversations involving financial data, account credentials, or personal health information
- Anyone who prefers minimal digital footprint in their messaging
They are less useful for:
- Group project coordination where participants need to reference past messages
- Customer service conversations that may need audit trails
- Legal compliance scenarios that require message retention
FAQ
Can the other person recover a disappearing message after it deletes?
No. Once the timer expires, the message is permanently deleted from both devices. There is no recovery mechanism, no archive, and BatChat’s servers do not store message content.
Does BatChat disappearing messages work if the recipient is offline?
The message is delivered and stored locally on the recipient’s device in encrypted form. The timer does not start until the recipient opens the BatChat app and taps the message. If they are offline, the message waits until they come online and open it.
Can I set different burn timers for different messages in the same chat?
Yes. BatChat allows you to adjust the timer before sending each individual message. You can send one message with a 5-second timer and the next with a 30-second timer within the same conversation.
Will I be notified if someone screenshots a disappearing message?
Yes. BatChat sends an in-chat notification to the sender when the recipient takes a screenshot of a disappearing message. The app also attempts to block screen recording on supported devices.
Do disappearing messages work in BatChat group chats?
Yes. The feature functions in both one-on-one and group chats. In groups, each member’s timer starts independently when they open the message.
What is the shortest burn timer in BatChat?
The minimum timer is 3 seconds. This is shorter than most competing apps (Signal starts at 1 second, WhatsApp and Telegram at 1 second) and is suitable for verification codes or one-time passwords.
Can group admins see disappearing messages after they expire?
No. Once a disappearing message’s timer expires for a group admin, it is deleted from their device just like any other member’s. There is no admin override to view expired burn messages.