12 WeChat features that you should know
Expat Services have listed 12 of the most useful WeChat features that you should know about. WeChat is a powerful application that can do almost everything.
With WeChat, you don't need to use a third application. You can send a message, call, read any files (PDF, Word, PPT, Epub...), take pictures, pay, translate, find music and more...
It is used for personal and professional life by everyone in China. More than 1 Billion people are already using it.
1. WeRun
2. Selfi Stickers
3. Find Music
4. "Wow"
5. Favorites
6. Recalling a message
7. WeChat Pay
8. Moments
9. Record Your Day
10. Mini Program
11. Translate
12. Text Size
Tips: Most of the features are available only if your WeChat is set up in English or in Chinese.
1. WeRun
By enabling WeRun, you can track your daily step count and see how close you are to reaching your fitness goals. If friendly competition helps motivate you, you can see how you stack up with friends who also use WeRun.
No matter how you rank, you’ll be able to like your friends’ steps, share your results to chats, and even post them on Moments. As an added incentive, if you finish first on the leaderboard by the end of the day, you’ll be able to set the cover photo on all your friends’ leaderboards!
How to active WeRun :
1. Search for the official account ID: WeRun-WeChat
2. Select “Enable”
3. With your permission, link your device’s health app to WeRun
4. “Invite Friends” and start running
2. Selfie Stickers
It is now possible to express your inner emotions in a fun and colorful way. Create your own stickers and share a laugh with your friends as you chat away. When you're happy with your creation, tap the green tick button and your sticker will be added to your collection and become ready to be shared with the world. You can also use your main camera to make non-selfie stickers in WeChat and create stickers from images already on your camera roll.
How to use Selfie Stickers
1. Open a conversation with a friend
2. Click on the smiley
3. Click on the two fingers
4. And record your own stickers
3. Find Music
Whether you're in a bar, a store or a nightclub, you hear a music that you like. Unfortunately, you don't know its title. It's easy to know the singer and the name of the music, just go to WeChat, and you'll have all the information you're looking for with a simple shake.
How to find a Music:
1. Go to the discovery icon
2. Then click on the Shake option
3. Choose the Music option
4. Now shake your phone
5. And you'll have all the information you were looking for about music
4. Wow
When you are reading an article, you can now tap the “Wow” button at the bottom of the article to express your appreciation. This will automatically result in the article being shared to your friends via the new “Wow” feature.
“Wow” makes sharing news and articles easier and more social.
You can also comment on the article that you want to share in "Top Stories".
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5. Favorites
This feature is really good if you want to save something important.
Do you see an article who looks interesting but no time now for reading it? No rush, save it into your "Favorites" and come back later on it when you will have more time!
You can also do that with important messages, pictures, videos or files.
Now come back to your WeChat Profil (Me), click on "Favorites" and find again what you have saved during the day!
6. Recalling a message
Did you make a mistake in your message? You can recall it, reuse the old content to edit your message and send!
You have one minute to recall your message by a long press on the message and then click "recall". You'll be also able to edit it again, so no need to copy/paste before!
7. WeChat Pay
Wechat Pay is a function you can get only if you have a Chinese mobile number and a Chinese Debit Card. Once is it settled, it exists many ways to pay via the application. WeChat Pay allows you to pay by scanning the seller’s QR code (it can be the QR code from an official account or even his own profile QR code), almost all the merchants are using it in China. You can safely keep your wallet at home, the only thing you will need is your phone to make your purchases now.
WeChat is also useful to pay on third-party applications, transfer/receive money from your friends or credit your debit cards.
8. Moments
WeChat Moments goes the same way than Facebook news flow. Each user can post a short text, links, pictures or videos. It is possible “to like” and to leave a comment. It's a perfect way to share something directly to all your friends!
9. Record Your Day
Since the last WeChat Update, you can now use it as Snapchat with a 24 hours video posting. You want to instantly share to your friend what you are doing, then "Record Your Day" is for you!
Click on your profile name to access it.
10. Mini Program
WeChat has a lot of Mini Programs (also called Mini Apps). You can use these applications inside WeChat without downloading them on your phone OS. It is very light and fast to access them directly from WeChat.
It is up to you to choose to use the original app or try it through WeChat. Most of the main features are available. Using a Mini Program can be a fast way to discover a new app or a new service.
You can also get into the Mini Programs panel by pulling down your conversation list!
11. Translate
The new feature "Translate" is very useful. You just have to take a picture of something that you can't read, and WeChat will translate it for you automatically.
12. Text Size
For your comfort, you can change the text size anywhere within WeChat (conversation, article, Mini App...).
1. Click on "Me"
2. Go to your "Settings"
3. Press "General"
4. Choose "Text Size"
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