WhatsApp Unveils New Chat Lock Feature, Allows Users Hide Messages

With so much personal information being shared on WhatsApp, it’s important to keep your chats secure. Over time, people have resorted to using third-party apps and the archive option to hide private WhatsApp chats. While the former can be stressful, the latter also allows anyone who has access to your WhatsApp to easily get into your archives and open up your closet. However, with the latest Whatsapp updates, there’s now a chat lock feature that allows you to hide secret conversations and secure them with a password.

However, with the latest Whatsapp updates, there’s now a chat lock feature that allows you to hide secret conversations and secure them with a password.

With this new feature, locked chats will be completely private, not even popping up in your notifications tab. Here are the steps to activate the locked chats feature on your WhatsApp:

Authentication can be done using password or biometric security, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition.

WhatsApp enhances chat lock features. Photo credit: @whatsapp Source: Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, made the announcement in a Facebook post, emphasising that the locked chats in WhatsApp enhance users' privacy.

WhatsApp's private features

WhatsApp has a history of prioritising security and privacy, with features such as end-to-end encryption, encrypted chat backup, disappearing messages, screenshot blocking, and control over the visibility of the last seen status.

WhatsApp's new Chat Lock feature represents another step in the company's ongoing efforts to provide users with robust privacy and security controls, allowing individuals to protect their most sensitive conversations from prying eyes.

How to enable WhatsApp Chat Lock feature

• To enable the Chat Lock feature, users must download or update WhatsApp to the latest version on Android and iOS devices.

• Once updated, they can go to the specific chat they wish to lock, click on the profile picture, and find the new "chat lock" option below the disappearing message menu.

• Enabling the chat lock requires authentication using the phone's password or biometrics.

• Users can swipe down on the WhatsApp home page to access locked chats and conveniently view all the closed conversations.

There are several reasons why you may want to hide your WhatsApp chats. Firstly, you may have personal or sensitive information that you want to keep private from others who may have access to your phone. 

Secondly, you may want to keep your conversations with certain individuals confidential. Lastly, hiding your chats can also prevent unnecessary interruptions and distractions from notifications, allowing you to focus on your work or personal time without any interruptions. Regardless, as you can see, the new WhatsApp chat lock is a simple and effective way to keep your personal information secure. 

By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that only you have access to your private chats on WhatsApp regardless of who handles your phone.