WhatsApp users can unlock three free upgrades with huge benefits

There are three tricks that all app-chatters need to know about. If you're a serial texter, you'll want to add these hacks to your arsenal.

Change your WhatsApp font

Simply open your WhatsApp on iPhone, enter a chat and type out a message. Then highlight a word (or sentence, or an entire message) and hold your finger down.

An app pop-up menu will appear: now tap the BIU symbol.

This lets you change the style of your font – potentially confusing pals.

Of course, that's not the only way to achieve this effect.

To make text bold, all you need to do is place an asterisk either side of the word or phrase you're trying to embolden, like so: *text goes here*

Similarly, it's also possible to make WhatsApp message italics, which is great for emphasis: italics.

It works in exactly the same was as the bold trick, but using different symbols.

You need to place an underscore on either side of the word or phrase you're trying to edit, like this: _text goes here_

The strikethrough features draws a line all the way through your text: strikethrough.

It's usually used to signify that something is wrong, or should be ignored.

To get a strikethrough, place a tilde (that's that squiggly line symbol) either side of your message, like this: ~text goes here~

Save important texts

Simply open WhatsApp and then go to a chat.

If you hold your finger down on a specific message, you'll get the option to Star it.

Then go into your Settings and look for Starred Messages.

That's where all of your favourite messages will be stored.

It's an easy way to keep track of important messages – maybe an address, travel directions or even a clever WhatsApp trick.

Pin your top chats

Another hack to learn is pinning chats.

This is an easy way to prioritise your favourite people in WhatsApp.

If you have a busy WhatsApp, sometimes loves one can get buried below groups and work chats.

But it's actually possible to pin several chats so that they stay at the top of your main conversation feed.

Go into your chat list and then swipe right on a conversation.

You can then tap Pin and that specific chat will stick to the top of the feed.

And if you change your mind later on, you can unpin at any time.–the-sun.com