New WeChat functions that you need to know (with graphic guides)

It pervades every aspect of your daily life – here's how to make it the most of it

Last week, WeChat released new updates to its app, including the addition of a floating function and changes to its Moments feature. Now available on both iOS and Android app stores, upgrade to WeChat version 7.0.5, to try out its latest improvements and features.

And whether you’re a WeChat newbie or a veteran on this Chinese super app, here’s a walkthrough guide (click on photos to enlarge) to the best new and existing functions of WeChat that’s guaranteed to make your life tons easier.

Floating windows

Image: Creating floating windows

If you’ve ever experienced getting an urgent message whilst in the middle of reading an article, you can now save the article in a floating window with the new 7.0.5 update. This new feature supports multiple windows, allowing users to back out of the article mid-stream to check your messages, making multi-tasking within WeChat a breeze.

How?

Step 1: Swipe right on the article and you'll notice the‘floating’ icon appearing on the bottom right of your screen

Step 2: Drag the article to the icon and you’ll see the article reduce into a tiny, hovering icon which can be reopened later
Step 3: WeChat allows users to float up to five different windows, which can range from articles, document files, or other types of content.

Privatising moments

Image: Privatising moments

We get it, everyone’s on WeChat, and sometimes we just don’t feel like sharing every single part of our lives with everyone. Here’s where this function comes in handy, which allows users to choose which groups, and to whom they would like their stories to be shared with. If you’re an expert WeChat user, you might already know to do this using the ‘tags’ function, but the new 7.0.5 update allows users to click on groups directly, eliminating the tedious process of tagging everyone.

How?

Step 1: Create a moment

Step 2: Click ‘Share to’

Step 3: Choose from a list of options, including the default ‘All’, or ‘Share to’

Step 4: If you want to share your moments to only specific people, click ‘Share to’ that allows you to choose from ‘Select from Group’ or ‘Select from Contacts’

Step 5: Choose from the groups or individual contacts you’d like to share it to and click ‘Done’

Going dutch

Image: Splitting bills with payments made via WeChat

Splitting bills have never been easier with this WeChat function. With this, you'll never have to have another awkward confrontation with your mates again.

With payments made on WeChat:

Step 1: Click on the notification WeChat sends you when you make a payment through WeChat pay, or the thing that says 微信支付 (WeChat pay)

Step 2: Click on your latest bill

Step 3: Click on 发起群收款, or split bill

Step 4: Spilt your bills accordingly. You’ll notice that WeChat automatically inputs the amount when you do it this way. It also creates an exceptionally organised split bill message that includes the name of the bill and the date. Perfect for all the Type As out there.

Image: Splitting bills with other kinds of payments

With other payments:

Step 1: Go to ‘Me’

Step 2: Click ‘WeChat Pay’

Step 3: Click ‘Money’

Step 4: Click ‘Split Bill’

Step 5: Split your bill accordingly

Easy translation

Image: Translating conversations

Sure, you can download a translation app to help you navigate the city, but why risk your phone storage space when you can do all of it on WeChat? Lucky for us, WeChat has not one, but two ways of translation.

Translating conversations: 

Step 1: Hold down on a message

Step 2: Click ‘Translate’

Image: Translating large amounts of texts

Translating large texts

Step 1: Click ‘Scan’

Step 2: Click on ‘Translate’ which you’ll find at the bottom of the screen

Step 3: Either take a picture or click on the image icon on the bottom right

Step 4: Watch Chinese text transform into English before your very eyes

WeChat stickers

Image: Saving stickers to your sticker gallery

Take your messaging game to the next level with WeChat’s sticker functions. There are two ways of doing so: you can either save existing stickers to your personal gallery, or create your own selfie stickers. This isn't a new function, but it sure is one of the best ones WeChat has in store.

To save stickers:

Step 1: Hold down on the sticker

Step 2: Click add to stickers

Step 3: Now you’ll be able to use the same sticker when you open your own sticker gallery

To create your own selfie stickers and turn yourselves into a meme, read our quick three-step guide here.

Image: To make your selfie stickers

To make your selfie stickers:

Step 1: Click on the add custom sticker icon in the top left of your stickers tab

Step 2: Pose, pose, pose, take those selfies 

Step 3: Tap the green tick button and your sticker will be added to your collection

Step 4: Click 'OK' and you're all set

Subscriptions

Image: Subscribing to accounts

WeChat subscriptions are like the news feed equivalent of Facebook. Have a favourite Beijing pub, or a late-night club you frequent that you’ll like to know more about? Simply subscribe to their WeChat accounts and you’ll be able to keep up with its latest promotions, or any of their special guest DJs.

The great thing about this function is that whenever your subscribed accounts post new content on WeChat, you’ll receive a notification in ‘Subscriptions’. However, unlike Facebook where there’s a special algorithm in place, WeChat doesn’t actually prioritise posts it thinks you might like, it’s all organised purely in a chronological fashion.

How?

Step 1: Search for the account in the search bar on the homepage

Step 2: Click on ‘search’

Step 3: Click on the account

Step 4: You’ll be directed to the account page and click ‘follow’ to keep updated on its latest news

WeChat mini programmes

Image: Adding mini programmes

With WeChat's mini programmes, you'll never have to download another app in China again. This ingenious feature lets you do everything from checking today’s weather all the way down to ordering that scrumptious meal from Maccas. So the next time you’re thinking about ordering food online, just order directly from mini programmes.

How:

Step 1: First, you’ve got to search a mini programme which you can easily 

do by dragging down from the homepage

Step 2: Click on more, or on the ‘three dots’ icon

Step 3: Drag down to reveal the search bar

Step 4: Type in the specific programme you’re looking for

Step 5: Click on the programme icon and you’ve now added it into your list of mini programmes. Now, ordering food can all be done directly via the mini programme.

Doing everything else... via WeChat

Image: WeChat for just about everything else

You can pretty much do everything on WeChat while you’re in China, including purchasing railway tickets, mobile top-ups, and even hailing a Didi. You’ll never have to exit this super app again.

How:

Step 1: Go to ‘Me’

Step 2: Click ‘WeChat Pay’ and scroll down 3. Click on the different options to try them out for yourself

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