WhatsApp introduced a new Secret Code characteristic for locked chats on Thursday. The Chat Lock characteristic introduced by the corporate earlier this yr has now been prolonged and permits you to cover your locked chats behind a secret code. As a end result, you may cover your delicate conversations with different customers from view if you’re passing your cellphone to a pal, or in case your cellphone falls into the incorrect palms. 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 primary chat record and might solely be accessed when the key code is entered, including one other layer of security to the messaging platform.
Gadgets 360 was capable of take a look at out the characteristic on the beta model of the app for Android smartphones. After you open the record of locked chats and faucet the three-dot menu on the prime > Chat lock settings > toggle Hide locked chats and enter a secret code that you could keep in mind simply, your locked chats will not be seen in the primary chat window — presently, WhatsApp exhibits a shortcut for locked chats when swiping down on the chat display — these might be accessed utilizing your fingerprint or Face ID.
After you have set a secret code, there’s just one solution to reveal your locked chats on WhatsApp — it’s essential to enter the identical secret code within the search bar on the app. This will present conversations protected by the Chat Lock characteristic, however solely till you exit the app.
If you needn’t cover the presence of your chats on WhatsApp, you may revert again to the unique Chat Lock characteristic by opening the record of locked chats utilizing your secret code, then tapping on the three-dot menu > Chat lock settings > toggle Hide 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. While the key code characteristic has begun rolling out to customers, it is going to be obtainable globally within the coming months. There’s no phrase on when — or whether or not — WhatsApp will carry the key code characteristic to WhatsApp for Desktop.
