The leading instant messaging application, WhatsApp, has unveiled the WhatsApp Chat Lock feature that lets users hide chats they don’t want other people to have access to.
According to WhatsApp, users now have the option to enable the chat lock function on both Android and iPhone. The function allows them to secure their private conversations with a password. In order to access the locked chat, users will have to use device verification methods like phone passcode, Face ID, or fingerprint. Additionally, locked chats will be stored separately in a designated folder on the App.
What to expect from WhatsApp chat lock
When you activate the WhatsApp chat lock feature, the details of notifications and the contacts involved will be hidden. Instead, you will see a general notification like “WhatsApp: 1 new message.”To ensure the privacy of media files, you will need to disable the chat lock temporarily if you want to save media to your phone’s gallery.
Additionally, the chat lock can be applied to group chats and chats that you have muted. It is important to note that calls will not be locked. Therefore, calls from locked chat contacts or groups will still be visible.
Enabling the chat lock on your phone only locks the chats on that specific device. If you are using WhatsApp on other linked devices, like a desktop computer, the chats on those devices won’t be locked. However, if you use the backup and restore feature on WhatsApp, your locked chats will remain locked when you restore them on a new phone.
To access these locked chats, you will first need to set up device authentication, such as fingerprint, Face ID, or password.
Enabling the chat lock will not notify the person you are having a conversation with that such chat has been locked. It is a private action that they won’t be aware of. If you wish to lock a chat that you’ve previously archived, you will need to first bring that archived chat back to your regular chat list by unarchiving it. Once it’s back in your main chat list, you can then proceed to lock it.
Read More; WhatsApp Business hits 200 million monthly active users, announces new features
How to turn on the WhatsApp chat lock
To enable or disable WhatsApp chat lock for specific chats, access the chat’s information. If you haven’t configured device authentication like your phone’s passcode, fingerprint, or Face ID, you will need to set it up before proceeding with locking a chat. To activate chat lock:
- Open the chat and tap on “Chat info.”
- Choose “Chat lock.”
- Select “Lock this chat with Face ID” and verify using your Face ID.
- Tap “View” to access the chat in the Locked Chats folder.
Step-by-step on how to view locked chats
- Navigate to the Chats section and pull down to refresh.
- Select the Locked Chats folder.
- Verify your Face ID.
- Tap on a chat to read or send messages.
How to de-activate chat lock
Disabling of chat lock can be done through the chat’s information. Below are the instructions to remove the lock:
- Enter the chat’s info.
- Choose “Chat lock.”
- Turn off the toggle and confirm using your Face ID, fingerprint, or password.
Previous updates on WhatsApp
WhatsApp introduced a new screen-sharing option for users. This feature, which is meant to improve the app’s video conference experience, also means that WhatsApp will now compete with videoconferencing offerings such as Google Meet, Microsoft Team, Apple’s FaceTime Time, and Zoom.
This feature, revealed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, lets users share things like documents and images. They can even use video conversations to share their shopping cart with phone contacts. Users must click the Share icon to enable the feature.
WhatsApp also announced that users can record and share short personal videos lasting up to 60 seconds directly in chats. This, it says, will improve the way people communicate on the platform.
The company introduced new features to its status to provide users with a better experience. These features include Voice Status, Private Audience Selector, Status Reactions, Status Profile Rings, and Link Previews on Status.
Individuals can share audio messages in regular chats on WhatsApp, but posting voice notes as your status is a novel concept for the messaging network. Users can now record and share voice messages on their WhatsApp Status for up to 30 seconds with this function.
WhatsApp users can anticipate the introduction of additional features aimed at enhancing the company’s functionalities and ensuring the utmost satisfaction for its users.
Read More: Meta is experimenting with AI-powered chatbots on WhatsApp, Instagram
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