Can I show WhatsApp status to only one person?

Quick Answer

Yes, it is possible to show your WhatsApp status update to only one selected contact instead of having it viewable by all your contacts who have your phone number saved. There are a couple of different ways to do this:

• You can send your status directly as a message to an individual contact.
• You can create a list with only that one contact, then choose that list when posting your status.

The steps to send your status to just one person may vary slightly depending on whether you are using WhatsApp on your iPhone or Android phone. We’ll cover the specifics for both platforms below.

Sending Your Status Directly to One Contact

One easy way to share your status with only a single person is to simply send it directly to them in a message. Here is how:

On iPhone

1. Open the WhatsApp app and tap on the Chats tab at the bottom.
2. Find the contact you want to send the status to and open your chat with them.
3. Tap on the camera icon to take a photo or video for your status.
4. After taking or selecting your photo/video, tap the send button (arrow icon).
5. On the sharing menu, tap ‘Status’ at the top.
6. Edit your status as needed, then send it.

This will deliver your status update directly in the chat with that person, visible only to them.

On Android

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the Chats tab.
2. Open your chat with the contact you want to send the status to.
3. Tap the attach button (paperclip icon) then select Camera.
4. Capture or select your photo/video for the status.
5. Tap the send button (arrow icon).
6. On the sharing menu, tap ‘My Status’ at the top.
7. Edit as needed and send your status.

This will share the status only in your private chat with that individual contact.

Creating a One Person List

You can also make a custom contact list with only one person, then choose to share your status with only that list. Here’s how to do this:

On iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp Settings > New Broadcast.
2. Select the contact you want to create the list for.
3. Tap Done to create a list with just that contact.
4. Give the list a name and tap Save.
5. When posting a status, change ‘My Contacts’ to your new list.

Now your status will go to only the person in that list.

On Android

1. Open WhatsApp > More Options > New broadcast.
2. Select the contact to add to the list.
3. Tap the check mark to create the list.
4. Give the list a name and tap OK.
5. When you post a status, tap ‘My contacts’ and select your list.

You can reuse this list again anytime you want a status to be visible to only that person.

Changing Existing Status Privacy

If you’ve already shared a status publicly and now want to change it to be visible to just one person, that is also possible.

On iPhone

1. Open your profile and tap the status you want to change.
2. Tap More > change audience.
3. Select ‘My Contacts Except’ and then tap to exclude all contacts except the one you want to see it.

On Android

1. Long press the status update you want to change.
2. Tap View Once > Custom > Select contact.
3. Choose the contact you want to make it visible to.

So even if you’ve already shared a status, you can restrict access after the fact on both iOS and Android.

Additional WhatsApp Status Privacy Tips

Here are some extra tips for controlling who can view your WhatsApp statuses:

• Check your privacy settings to choose who can see your status by default – My Contacts, My Contacts Except, Only Share With. This will apply to new statuses you post.
• Use View Once if you want your status to disappear after being viewed by your selected contact.
• Create multiple contact lists for different friend groups if you want to segment status visibility.
• Keep in mind that avoiding recipients can still take screenshots, so sensitive statuses may be better sent as private messages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide my WhatsApp status from specific contacts?

Yes, you can hide your status from certain contacts while leaving it visible to others. On Android, tap the 3 dots when posting a status and choose ‘My Contacts Except’. Then select the contacts to exclude. On iPhone, edit your privacy settings to choose ‘My Contacts Except’ and select who not to show it to.

If I send my status to one person, can they share it publicly?

Yes, if you send your status as a message directly to one person, they are able to screenshot it or re-share it and make it public. To prevent this, use the View Once setting or consider not sharing sensitive statuses.

Can I choose multiple specific people to view my status?

You can create a custom contact list with multiple people, then set your status audience to that list. This allows you to choose several contacts who can view it while excluding others.

Will my contacts know if I’ve hidden my status from them?

No, if you use the ‘My Contacts Except’ privacy setting, the contacts you’ve excluded will not get any notification that your status is hidden from them. Your status will simply not be visible to the contacts you’ve chosen to hide it from.

Conclusion

While WhatsApp statuses are designed to share quick updates with all your contacts by default, you do have options to limit visibility to certain selected people. By sending statuses directly in chat, using custom contact lists, or adjusting privacy settings, you can control exactly who can view your status updates. Just keep in mind recipients can still potentially screenshot or reshare anything you send directly. With the right approach, you can successfully share WhatsApp statuses with individual contacts while maintaining your preferred level of privacy.

Platform	Method to Share Status with One Person
iPhone	Send status directly in chat Create 1 person list
Android	Send status directly in chat Create 1 person list

Question	Answer
Can I hide my status from specific contacts?	Yes, use “My Contacts Except” and select who to exclude.
Can recipients share my private status publicly?	Yes, they can potentially screenshot or reshare it.
Can I share my status with multiple specific people?	Yes, create a custom list with multiple contacts.