WhatsApp Introduces 'Chat Lock' To Password Protect Specific Private Conversations: Here’s How To Use

Meta-owned WhatsApp instant messenger received a new feature this week. Aimed at boosting privacy and security, the "Chat Lock" feature will allow users to isolate and lock selected conversations.

WhatsApp has been regularly adding new features, such as one-time audio messages, newsletter functionality, and many more. This time, the Meta-owned messaging app is enhancing user privacy by adding a chat lock feature that will allow individual chats to be locked instead of locking the entire app.

How To Use Chat Lock Feature To Secure Individual Conversations

Until recently, WhatsApp users could secure the entire WhatsApp app. Users could secure the app behind biometric, pin, or pattern lock. However, moving forward, WhatsApp is offering granular control over the lock feature.

WhatsApp now has a new feature called Chat Lock to help users password-protect specific private conversations. The feature will allow users to lock specific individual or group chats.

Using the Chat Lock feature, WhatsApp users will be able to take the conversation thread out of their inbox and put it behind its own folder. Needless to add, users will be able to access these secured conversations with their device password or biometric authentication such as a fingerprint.

Users will be able to lock chats by tapping the name of the person or the group and selecting the lock option. To access these chats later, users can slowly pull down their inbox and enter their phone password or tap on the fingerprint scanner when asked.

The Chat Lock feature will also hide the sender's name and the contents of the message in notifications as well. Simply put, none of the details of the secured chat will be available to anyone except for the primary user of the smartphone or device on which WhatsApp is installed and synced.

Currently, a single password or biometric authentication works across all secured or locked chats. WhatsApp has indicated that it will add more Chat Lock options including locking for companion devices and the ability for users to create custom passwords for their chats.

WhatsApp Chat Lock Feature For iOS and Android Devices

WhatsApp has confirmed the Chat Lock feature will be available to iPhone and Android device users. However, the new feature is being sent out gradually to all WhatsApp users across the world. This means some users may receive the feature sooner than others.

WhatsApp recently started allowing users to log into the same account on up to four phones. Needless to say, this was a long-requested feature addition to the messaging application.

WhatsApp users in India have been subjected to scams and spam calls from unknown international numbers. The instant messaging platform has assured that it will bolster its backend process to curb the menace.