WhatsApp to provide Android users with a locked chat feature: All the details

WhatsApp

Meta’s messaging platform WhatsApp has been continuously updating with new features and updates in the last few months. In a new development, the company is now testing a locked chats feature for linked devices on Android.

According to a new report by WABetaInfo, the locked chats feature is available on the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.11.9 update. The feature is designed to offer users an additional layer of privacy for their chat messages, ensuring that their sensitive chat or its content is also protected on other linked devices.

The report has shared a screenshot where it prompts some WhatsApp beta users to set up a secret code to open locked chats on the device. However, the secret code must be entered on the primary device, and the lock status will be visible on other secondary linked devices.

Once a code is successfully set up, the protected chats will disappear from the regular chat list on all linked devices and will only be accessible through the locked chats screen. Additionally, the secret code is synchronised across all linked devices, so that you can use any device to access those protected chats.

This will help in ensuring confidentiality as these chats will be protected from prying others, while your linked devices are accidentally visible or unlocked. The same report also suggests that this update is expected to roll out to other beta testers in the coming weeks.

Previously, WhatsApp had prohibited taking screenshots of other’s profile pictures on the Android version of the app. This security feature is also expected to roll out in the iOS version soon.