How do you use WhatsApp chat lock feature to protect your privacy?

WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called Chat Lock to help users secure their sensitive conversations.WhatsApp is the most widely used instant messaging application globally, commonly used for communication with friends, family, and colleagues. This means that you may have private conversations that you don't want others to see. Therefore, the application offers some features to help you secure your data and protect your privacy.

The chat lock feature provides you with additional privacy to secure conversations that you don't want anyone else to see. It works by transferring the conversations you want to secure from the inbox to a dedicated folder called "Locked Chats," which can only be opened with your device password or biometric measures such as fingerprint.

When you send a new message in a conversation that is located in the "Locked Chats" folder, the sender's name or message content will not be displayed in notifications. Instead, the notification will appear as "WhatsApp: New Message." However, it does not lock the contacts, so any incoming calls from any contact will still appear in a locked chat or group. Additionally, you have the option to lock individual or group conversations.

Note: When you enable the chat lock feature on your phone, it will only lock the chats on that specific device. If you have other devices linked to WhatsApp, such as a computer, tablet, or smartwatch, the chats will not be locked on those linked devices.

Here's how to use WhatsApp's "Locked Chats" feature to protect your privacy:

1. Go to the WhatsApp application on your phone.
2. Navigate to the individual or group conversation you want to secure.
3. Tap on the name of the person you are messaging or the group name displayed in the top-left corner to go to its settings page.
4. Scroll down until you reach the option "Chat Lock" and then tap on it.
5. Enable the option "Lock this chat with fingerprint" by pressing the toggle button next to it.

How to access locked chats:

As mentioned earlier, WhatsApp hides locked chats in a dedicated folder that doesn't appear upon opening the application. However, you can access them by following these steps:

1. Open the WhatsApp application on your phone.

2. Scroll down through the chat list, and at the top, you will see a new folder called "Locked Chats." Tap on it.

3. Enter your phone's passcode or use the fingerprint sensor to unlock it.

4. You will see a list of all the chats you have locked. Tap on the chat you want to view or send any messages.