Self-destructing messages, done properly.
Most “disappearing” messages are saved first and deleted later. Burn mode never saves them at all: not on our servers, not on your computer, not on theirs. They're opened once and destroyed.
Download freeFree · Windows 10/11 & macOS 11+How burn mode works
- You switch it on for a chat and choose a timer: 10 seconds to 5 minutes. Both of you see that it's on.
- Your message is encrypted on your computer and sent sealed. It is held only in memory — never written to a database or disk.
- They see “Tap to view”. Nothing is shown on screen until they choose to open it.
- The countdown starts when it's opened. When it hits zero — or they close the chat — the message is destroyed on their side, and your copy is destroyed too.
Burn mode vs disappearing messages
Disappearing messages are for chats you want to keep tidy: messages are stored (encrypted) on both devices and removed after the time you choose, from 5 minutes to 90 days.
Burn mode is for the things you'd only ever say in person: nothing is stored to begin with, so there is nothing to delete, recover or subpoena from a device later.
Never written to disk
Burn messages live in memory only — RAM is cleared when the message burns or the app closes.
Tap to reveal
Messages stay hidden until opened, so they don't flash up on a screen someone else is looking at.
You set the clock
10s, 30s, 1 min or 5 min after opening. Change it any time; both sides are told.
Gone on both sides
When it's opened, your copy is destroyed as well. Unread burns expire after 24 hours.
Say it once. Then it's gone.
Burn mode is free in Jump.AFRICA Messenger for Windows and Mac.