WhatsApp Rolls Out a ‘Secret Code’ Feature for Locked Chats: How It Works

WhatsApp is rolling out a new Secret Code feature for locked chats. The Chat Lock characteristic introduced by the corporate earlier this yr has now been prolonged and means that you can conceal your locked chats behind a secret code. Because of this, you may conceal your delicate conversations with different customers from view once you’re passing your cellphone to a good friend, or in case your cellphone falls into the improper fingers. Alternatively, you may proceed to guard your chats together with your cellphone’s PIN or passcode, or by scanning your face or fingerprint.

On Thursday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the rollout of the brand new Secret Code for Chat Lock characteristic that lets you choose a chat and lock it behind a password or a phrase. Chats hidden behind a secret code is not going to be seen in the principle chat checklist and may solely be accessed when the key code is entered, including one other layer of security to the messaging platform.

The brand new Secret Code setting on WhatsApp

Devices 360 was in a position to take a look at out the characteristic on the beta model of the app for Android smartphones. After you open the checklist of locked chats and faucet the three-dot menu on the high > Chat lock settings > toggle Conceal locked chats and enter a secret code that you would be able to bear in mind simply, your locked chats will not be seen in the principle chat window — at present, WhatsApp reveals a shortcut for locked chats when swiping down on the chat display — these will be accessed utilizing your fingerprint or Face ID.

After you’ve got set a secret code, there’s just one method to reveal your locked chats on WhatsApp — you need to enter the identical secret code within the search bar on the app. This can present conversations protected by the Chat Lock characteristic, however solely till you exit the app.

If you happen to needn’t conceal the presence of your chats on WhatsApp, you may revert again to the unique Chat Lock characteristic by opening the checklist of locked chats utilizing your secret code, then tapping on the three-dot menu > Chat lock settings > toggle Conceal locked chats off to disable the Secret Code characteristic.

WhatsApp additionally says that you just will not need to enter particular person chat settings to lock a chat — you may merely lengthy press a chat to lock it. Whereas the key code characteristic has begun rolling out to customers, will probably be obtainable globally within the coming months. There is not any phrase on when — or whether or not — WhatsApp will carry the key code characteristic to WhatsApp for Desktop.