WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 1 billion users worldwide. It allows you to easily connect with friends and family through messages, calls, photos, videos and more.
While WhatsApp offers great features for staying in touch, you may want more privacy when using the app. The good news is WhatsApp has several privacy options that allow you to control who can see your information and when.
Hide Last Seen, Online and Profile Photo
By default, anyone in your WhatsApp contacts can see your last seen, online status and profile photo. To make these private from specific contacts:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on Settings.
- Go to Account > Privacy.
- Tap on Last Seen, Profile Photo or About to open more options.
- Select “My Contacts Except…” to block specific contacts.
- Choose which contacts you want to hide your last seen, profile photo and about info from.
This will prevent those selected contacts from seeing your last seen timestamp, online status or profile photo while allowing your other contacts to view them normally.
Turn Off Read Receipts
Read receipts show when you have read a message sent to you. To disable read receipts:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Tap on Read Receipts.
- Toggle off the setting.
This will stop sending read receipts to all your WhatsApp contacts. You can also choose to disable them for specific contacts only.
Hide Message Previews
If you want to keep your message contents more private on the iPhone lock screen:
- Go to iPhone Settings > Notifications > WhatsApp.
- Turn off “Show Previews.”
This will display only the sender’s name – not the message itself – in WhatsApp notifications on your lock screen and banners.
Enable Screen Security
You can add another layer of security to prevent others from accessing WhatsApp when your iPhone is locked:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Turn on “Screen Lock.”
- Set a passcode, Touch ID or Face ID to unlock WhatsApp.
This adds secure screen lock functionality specific to WhatsApp. You’ll need to authenticate with your biometric or passcode to open WhatsApp when the screen is locked.
Use Authentication to Open WhatsApp
For even stronger security, you can require biometric (Face ID or Touch ID) authentication every time you open WhatsApp:
- Go to iPhone Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
- Scroll down and turn on “Use Face ID for WhatsApp.”
Now Face ID or Touch ID will be required on app launch in addition to screen lock. This ensures only you can access your WhatsApp messages.
Disable Backups
WhatsApp data like messages are automatically backed up to iCloud. To stop backing up your WhatsApp data:
- Go to iPhone Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
- Tap on Manage Storage > Backups.
- Toggle off WhatsApp.
This will prevent any new WhatsApp chats from being added to iCloud backups. Existing backup data remains in iCloud.
Use Disappearing Messages
You can make all new WhatsApp chats disappear after a set time with the disappearing messages feature:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Tap on Default Message Timer.
- Choose duration for messages to disappear.
Any new chats will automatically delete messages after the selected duration. This prevents long-term retention of WhatsApp message history.
Be Cautious of Third-Party Apps
Be careful when using third-party apps that interact with WhatsApp. Some may request access to your messages or data in ways that compromise privacy. Only use trustworthy apps and be selective when granting permissions.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
For extra security, enable two-factor authentication on your WhatsApp account:
- Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification.
- Turn on “Require a 6 digit PIN.”
- Confirm a PIN and enter an email for resetting.
This adds a PIN that is required when registering your phone number with WhatsApp. So even if your SIM is transferred, only you can access the account.
Be Careful Sharing Codes
Beware of accidentally disclosing WhatsApp verification codes sent via SMS. Someone else entering this code can activate WhatsApp on their device.
Limit Photo Visibility
Adjust your WhatsApp settings to control who can see your photos:
- Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Photo Visibility.
- Change from “Everyone” to “My Contacts” or specific contacts.
This limits your photos to your chosen audience only. Photos will be hidden from anyone not selected.
Disable Siri on Lock Screen
Disable Siri on the lock screen to prevent unauthorized access to WhatsApp via voice commands:
- Go to iPhone Settings > Siri & Search.
- Turn off “Allow Siri When Locked.”
Now Siri cannot open, interact with or read WhatsApp messages when your phone is locked.
Conclusion
Making WhatsApp private on iPhone is straightforward thanks to the many built-in privacy options. Take advantage of settings like disabling read receipts, turning off backups and enabling authentication. Be thoughtful about who you share information with both inside and outside the app. With a few adjustments, you can securely use WhatsApp while maintaining control over your personal data.