Everything You Need to Know About WhatsApp Lock Chat and How It Works

For those who want to keep their messages more private, WhatsApp has added a new feature called the “WhatsApp lock chat”.

The new Chat Lock option lets you hide notifications and chats from the main screen of the app.

Just like in real life, your online privacy is important. With Meta providing end-to-end encryption on WhatsApp, you’re probably someone who cares about your data and privacy.

But what if you lose track of your phone? We carry our devices everywhere, and sometimes, we might leave them in public places or mix them up with others. When that happens, your private chats can be exposed to anyone who finds your device.

That’s why it’s a good idea to lock your private conversations on WhatsApp. We’ll guide you through how to use the new WhatsApp Chat Lock feature to keep your messages secure.

What is WhatsApp Chat Lock?
What has Meta said it is for?
What Does this Mean for the Online Safety Bill?
How to turn on WhatsApp Chat Lock on Android and iPhone
WhatsApp Secret Code Features for Chat Lock
How to View Your Locked Chats
How to Turn Off WhatsApp Chat Lock
Other ways to protect your WhatsApp messages
Why Don’t I Have Chat Lock Option in My WhatsApp?
FAQs
Conclusion
References
Recommendations

What is WhatsApp Chat Lock?

WhatsApp launched the Chat Lock feature in May 2023 to boost security and privacy. This feature lets you move certain chats (whether with contacts or groups) into a hidden folder, which only you can open using a passcode, fingerprint, or face ID.

In fact, WhatsApp is also planning to add more options to this feature, like creating special passwords for individual chats you want to keep hidden. You can access these locked chats in a separate folder, and if you decide to unlock them, you can easily switch off the feature. You can even organize your chats on WhatsApp using the Chats filter.

When you lock a chat, any notifications from that contact will also be hidden, keeping your messages completely private. Meta has designed this feature to make sure your WhatsApp experience stays safe and secure.

So now, you don’t have to worry about family or friends who might have access to your phone snooping through your conversations. With the Chat Lock option, your personal messages are safe from prying eyes.

What has Meta said it is for?

In May 2023, Meta said, “We’re always looking for new ways to keep your messages safe and private. Today, we’re launching Chat Lock on WhatsApp, which gives you an extra layer of protection for your most personal chats.

By locking a chat, it’s removed from your inbox and placed in its own folder. This folder can only be accessed with your phone’s password or biometrics like a fingerprint. Plus, the contents of the chat won’t show up in your notifications either.

“We think this feature will be super helpful for people who sometimes share their phones with family members or when someone else happens to have your phone right when an important message comes through” they continued.

You can lock a chat by tapping on the name of a one-on-one or group chat and selecting the lock option. To view these chats, just pull down on your inbox and enter your password or biometric.

What Does this Mean for the Online Safety Bill?

The Online Safety Bill wants messaging apps to scan for illegal content, but WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption only allows the sender and receiver to see messages. While end-to-end encryption doesn’t stop someone from physically reading your messages if they get a hold of your phone, this new Chat Lock feature helps protect you from that.

The bill has been controversial, with online safety advocates and free speech supporters both expressing concerns. Some think the bill doesn’t go far enough to shield people, especially children, from harmful online content. Others believe it could lead to online censorship.

Meta and other tech companies have openly opposed the bill, claiming it could pose “an unprecedented threat to the privacy, safety, and security of every citizen.” They also warned that it might encourage hostile governments to create similar laws.

Law enforcement, on the other hand, argues that encryption can help criminals cover up serious crimes, which could be a security risk. Meta has made it clear that it won’t compromise its privacy policies, even if it means being banned in any country.

However, Meta now admits they cooperate with the Government to censor citizens’ content. This shouldn’t bother you much as your privacy is protected.

How to turn on WhatsApp Chat Lock on Android and iPhone

Meta has made the WhatsApp Chat Lock feature available for both Android and iOS, but you’ll need to turn it on manually.

Let us walk you through the steps to activate this feature. Just make sure your WhatsApp app is up to date before starting.

Open the WhatsApp app.
Tap on the chat (or profile picture) that you want to hide.
Tap the “i” icon to open the chat info settings.
Scroll down and select the Chat Lock option.
Turn on Lock this chat with a fingerprint. If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, you can set up a passcode or use Face ID.
To view the chat, tap the View button, and you’ll see it in the Locked Chats folder.

To see all your locked chats, go back to the chat list tab and open the Locked Chats folder.

WhatsApp Secret Code Features for Chat Lock

You can now create a secret code that sets a unique password for your locked chats. This password can be different from the one you use to unlock your phone, giving your locked conversations an extra level of privacy.

You also have the option to hide the Locked Chats folder from your chat list. To access these chats, just type your secret code in the search bar.

If you prefer, you can still have the locked chats folder show up in your chat list. Whenever you want to lock a new chat, simply long-press on the chat and lock it without having to go through the chat’s settings.

How to View Your Locked Chats

You can find all your locked chats at the top of your WhatsApp conversations under the Locked Chats tab. Here’s how to check them out:

Go to the Chats section and swipe down.
Tap on the Locked Chats folder.
Enter your passcode, use Face ID, or touch the fingerprint sensor to unlock.
Tap the chat you want to view or send a message.

How to Turn Off WhatsApp Chat Lock

If you decide you no longer want to use Chat Lock, you can easily turn it off by following these steps:

Open WhatsApp and swipe down on your chat list to find the Locked Chats folder.
Tap on Locked Chats and go to the chat info.
Use your fingerprint or Face ID to access the locked chats.
Select the chat you want to unlock and tap on the profile icon.
Tap the i icon to open the chat info settings, then tap Chat Lock.
Toggle off Lock this chat with fingerprint. Confirm the change using your fingerprint, Face ID, or passcode.

Once the chat is unlocked, it will reappear on your main chat list, just like when you unarchive a conversation.

Other ways to protect your WhatsApp messages

There are several hacks to protect your privacy on WhatsApp. Besides using Chat Lock, there are a few more ways to keep your WhatsApp account and messages secure:

Enable disappearing messages: If you want a message to automatically delete after a certain time, you can turn on disappearing messages. You can choose for messages to disappear after a day, a week, or three months.
Archive sensitive chats: Instead of deleting messages, you can archive the chats you want to hide. This will remove them from the Chats tab, but you can still access them later from the Archived section.
Enable two-step verification: For extra security when setting up WhatsApp on a new device, turn on two-step verification. Just go to Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification and tap Turn On. You’ll need to create a passcode and can optionally add an email address for recovery.

Why Don’t I Have Chat Lock Option in My WhatsApp?

It is not unusual that you face some challenges with your social media accounts. There are times on TikTok you might even need to fix your TikTok log-in issues.

If you don’t see the “Chat Lock” option on WhatsApp, here are some easy steps to troubleshoot:

Method 1: Update WhatsApp

Make sure you’re using the latest version of WhatsApp. Older versions might not have the newest features or bug fixes. To update:

Open the App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play Store (for Android).
Search for “WhatsApp” and check if there’s an update available.
If there is, tap Update.
Once updated, open WhatsApp and tap the name of the person or group you want to lock.
Look for the Chat Lock option and lock the chat.

Method 2: Check Device Compatibility

Ensure your phone is compatible with the Chat Lock feature. Sometimes, WhatsApp rolls out new features that may not work on older devices or operating systems.

Method 3: Restart WhatsApp

Restarting the app can fix minor issues. Completely close WhatsApp, then reopen it to see if the Chat Lock option appears. You can also restart your phone by holding down the power button until the power menu shows up, then open WhatsApp again.

Method 4: Clear WhatsApp Cache and Data

Clearing the app’s cache and data can help with missing features. Here’s how:

Go to Settings on your phone.
Select Apps > WhatsApp > Storage & cache.
Tap Clear cache, then tap Clear storage.

Method 5: Contact WhatsApp Support

If none of the above methods work, you can reach out to WhatsApp Support. They’ll be able to assist you and give you more advice on how to fix the issue.

See also: How to Fix “I Can’t Login My Tiktok Account” Problem in Nigeria

FAQs

What does Chat Lock do on WhatsApp?

Chat Lock lets you lock specific chats using either a passcode or biometrics, like your fingerprint or face recognition. This keeps your messages private and hidden from anyone who might try to snoop. Once locked, those chats move to a separate folder that only you can access.

How to hide WhatsApp chats without deleting them?

You can easily hide chats by archiving them. On iOS, swipe left on the chat, or Android, long-press the chat and select Archive. To unhide a chat, just go to the Archived Chats folder, swipe left (iOS) or long-press (Android), and select Unarchive.

Can someone read my WhatsApp messages from another phone?

Nope! WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, which means only you and the person you’re chatting with can read the messages. If someone tries to access your account from another device, they won’t be able to see your past conversations.

How can I tell if someone is tracking my WhatsApp?

If you notice actions or changes on WhatsApp that you didn’t do, it’s a sign that someone may have access to your account. Also, keep an eye out for notifications about WhatsApp Web access. Hackers can scan your QR code and view your chats on their computer.

How do I permanently hide WhatsApp chats?

To keep chats hidden forever, turn on the “Keep Chats Archived” feature. Just go to Settings > Chats > Archived Chats and enable Keep Chats Archived. Now, any chat you archive will stay hidden permanently.

Conclusion

The WhatsApp Chat Lock is a great way to protect your private conversations on WhatsApp. If the feature isn’t showing up, use the troubleshooting tips to fix it.

Once it’s set up, you’ll have full control over your chat security and can continue enjoying WhatsApp. You can also turn off your WhatsApp Chat Lock features whenever you like.

If you find this article helpful, kindly share your thoughts in the comment section and follow us on our social media platforms on X (Silicon Africa (@SiliconAfriTech)), Instagram (SiliconAfricaTech), and Facebook (Silicon Africa).

References

Androidpolice.com – How to use WhatsApp Chat Lock
Inews.co.uk – What is WhatsApp Chat Lock? How to use locked chats and the new message feature explained