If some of your chats require extra privacy, you can lock them so they appear in a separate folder away from the main list. Also protected by your face or fingerprint, the Chat Lock feature can be enabled by going to the contact’s picture, scrolling down, and tapping Lock Chat.
If you need to delete conversations in a hurry, WhatsApp allows you to do so in Settings > Privacy > Chat Lock > Unlock and Clear Locked Chats.
Enable Advanced Security Settings
WhatsApp offers some advanced settings to help protect your account against scammers and prevent revealing your IP address. These settings are super-useful, but they are turned off by default.
To turn the settings on, go to Privacy > Advanced. The first is Block Unknown Messages, which stops you from being bombarded with high volumes of texts—a common scammer tactic.
Next up is the Protect Your IP Address setting, which ensures your calls are end-to-end encrypted via WhatsApp’s servers. This will prevent your IP address from being revealed, but the quality of your calls may be reduced.
Finally, if you enable Disable Link Previews, the links you send will not generate a preview, which may again reveal your IP address.
Advanced Chat Privacy
Another key feature for WhatsApp security is Advanced Chat Privacy, which helps prevent people taking your chats outside of the app, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using your messages for AI features.
To enable the feature for individuals, click the chat you want to edit. Go to View Contact > Advanced Chat Privacy, and turn it on. Just note, you need to enable Advanced Chat Privacy for each individual or group chat you want to apply it to.
For groups, be aware that anyone can update the setting, but an admin can restrict it. Click the chat you want to edit. Click Group Info > Group Permissions. Turn on Edit Group Settings. Go back to the Group page and click Advanced Chat Privacy and turn the feature on or off.
When using Advanced Chat Privacy, be warned that users who aren’t on the latest version of WhatsApp may still be able to share chats outside of the app, such as auto-downloading media—and you won’t be notified if this is the case.
Disable Read Receipts
One of the less private features in WhatsApp is the ability for a recipient to see when you’ve read a message via the blue-tick read receipts. You can disable these, but be aware that it works both ways, and you won’t be able to see when others read your messages. The feature doesn’t apply to group chats. Go to your Settings > Privacy > Read Receipts and toggle the feature off.
Turn Off Media Downloads
WhatsApp automatically saves the videos and photos sent to your phone, which is annoying to say the least. To prevent this, go to your Settings > Chats and turn off Save to Photos.
At the same time, WhatsApp allows you to send media and voice notes for one-time viewing. Just select the media you’d like to send, but before doing so tap the ‘1’ icon in the caption field.
All that said, WhatsApp says it takes the role of providing private communication “incredibly seriously.”
“We continue to lead the industry in meaningful innovations that protect people’s messages and calls, including through collaboration with security researchers to strengthen our defenses,” WhatsApp spokesperson Ellie Heatrick tells WIRED. “With every feature we build, we sweat the details to protect what matters most: The ability to communicate privately and securely.”
