don’t know this privacy setting: In today’s digital age where every message, photo and voice note is important, the security of your data and chats becomes paramount. Many people use WhatsApp, but 99% of them are not aware of this privacy setting.
In this article, we will understand in detail how WhatsApp offers various options for your security, such as disappearing messages, Face ID lock, last seen control, hiding blue ticks, and many more hidden features. By using all these features, you can protect your privacy.
Disappearing Messages – Messages will be automatically deleted.
Disappearing Messages is a feature of WhatsApp in which messages sent in a chat are automatically deleted after a set period of time. You can set this feature for individual chats as well as group chats.
For personal chat:
- Open chat
- Touch the name above.
- Select “Disappearing Messages”
- Choose time – 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days
For all chats:
- WhatsApp > Settings > Privacy
- Select “Default Message Timer”
- Choose a time
Technical Note: Disappearing Messages only applies to new messages, not old ones. If the receiver auto-forwards or backs up the messages, they may be saved from being deleted.
View Once – Photos and videos will only be viewed once.
This feature is for media files like photos and videos, which will only be viewed once by the receiver.
How to use:
- Open chat
- : (Android) / Touch + (iOS)
- Take a photo with the camera or select from the gallery.
- Touch the “1” icon next to the Send button.
- Press Send to send.
Important: This feature cannot protect your photos and videos from being taken screenshots, so use this feature with caution for sensitive information.
Unlock WhatsApp with Face ID/Touch ID
The screen lock feature is useful to prevent someone else from opening your WhatsApp. Through which you have to unlock it before opening WhatsApp.
Process:
Settings > Privacy > Screen Lock > Turn on “Require Face ID / Touch ID”
Tip: Biometric lock feature is also available in Android (via Phone settings).
Control Last Seen and Online Status
With this feature, you can decide who can see when you were last online or what your Last Seen is.
Settings > Privacy > “Last Seen & Online”
option:
- Everyone
- My Contacts
- My Contacts Except…
- Nobody
With the “Same as Last Seen” option, you can decide who can see whether you have WhatsApp open or not, even when you are online.
Turn off Read Receipts (blue tick)
This option is useful if the blue ticks you receive after reading a message are bothering you.
Settings > Privacy > Read Receipts > Off
If you turn off Read Receipts, you won’t be able to see whether other people’s messages have been read or not.
Tech Hacks:
If you read a message using Siri on your iPhone, the blue tick will not appear.
Even reading a message in a notification on Android will not result in a blue tick.
Who can see your profile photo?
You can control who can see your profile picture. This feature is useful for you if you do not want to let any unknown person see your profile picture. This feature becomes very useful when there are unknown people in the group.
- Settings > Privacy > Profile Photo
- Everyone, My Contacts, My Contacts Except…, Nobody
Block people who bother you.
If someone is bothering you by sending you messages or calling you on WhatsApp, then no more. You can block such people. By blocking, that person will not be able to send you messages or calls. To block:
- Open chat
- Touch the contact name.
- Scroll down and select “Block Contact”
- Confirm by pressing “Block” again.
Stop auto-saving photos or videos in the gallery
Photos/videos received in WhatsApp are automatically saved to your Gallery or Camera Roll. If you don’t want this, turn it off like this:
For iOS :
Settings > Chats > Save to Camera Roll → Off
For Android:
Settings > Chats > Media Visibility → Off
Manage auto media visibility for specific people
To turn automatic media saving on or off for some contacts, follow these steps:
- Open chat
- Touch the contact name.
- iOS: Save to Camera Roll
- Android: Media Visibility
- Select: Default / Yes / No
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