WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, allowing users to easily connect with friends and family. However, one annoying default setting is that WhatsApp calls will show up on your lock screen whenever someone tries to call you on the app.
Having your private WhatsApp calls displayed on your lock screen can be inconvenient, distracting and even a privacy concern. The good news is you can disable this feature and stop WhatsApp calls from appearing on your lock screen with just a few simple steps.
Why WhatsApp Calls Show on Your Lock Screen
When you get an incoming WhatsApp call, the app is designed to override your phone’s Do Not Disturb settings and display the call on your lock screen. This allows you to see who is calling even if your phone is locked.
There are a couple of reasons why WhatsApp enables this feature by default:
- Convenience – By showing the call on your lock screen, you can quickly see who is calling and answer it without having to unlock your phone.
- Urgency – WhatsApp treats its calls as urgent communications, so it displays them prominently to ensure you do not miss an important call.
So in most cases, having WhatsApp calls pop up on your lock screen is helpful. But if you find it intrusive or want to keep your WhatsApp activity private, you can turn this off.
How to Stop WhatsApp Calls Showing on Lock Screen on iPhone
If you have an iPhone and want to stop WhatsApp calls appearing on your lock screen, just follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Notifications.
- Locate WhatsApp in the list of apps and tap on it.
- Under the Allow Notifications heading, turn off the switch for Show Previews.
This will prevent the contents of WhatsApp notifications, including call details and messages, from appearing on your lock screen. With this setting disabled, you will only see a generic WhatsApp notification on your lock screen when receiving a call.
Customizing WhatsApp Notifications on iPhone
In the WhatsApp notifications settings, you also have a few other options to customize notifications from the app:
- Sounds – Choose a custom sound for WhatsApp notifications or turn sounds off.
- Alert Style – Select if you want notifications to banner across the screen or just appear in the notification center.
- Badge App Icon – Toggle on/off to show a notification dot on the WhatsApp icon.
So if you only want to hide call details on your lock screen but keep normal WhatsApp notification previews, make sure the Show Previews switch is still enabled. This gives you granular control over how WhatsApp notifications appear on your iPhone.
How to Stop WhatsApp Calls on Lock Screen on Android
The process is very similar for hiding WhatsApp call notifications on Android devices:
- Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
- Tap Apps & notifications (or just Notifications on some devices).
- Select WhatsApp from the list.
- Tap Notifications and turn off the toggle for Show notification dot on icon.
- Tap Call Notifications and select Minimize calls to hide call details and just show that you received a WhatsApp call.
This will prevent the call screen from popping up on your lock screen. You can also customize other WhatsApp notification settings here like sounds, vibrations, priority override and notification dots.
Using Do Not Disturb on Android
Another option on Android is to use Do Not Disturb mode to block notifications from showing on your lock screen:
- Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Do Not Disturb.
- Tap Do Not Disturb preferences.
- Under Notifications, choose whether to allow no notifications or priority notifications only.
- Add WhatsApp to your exceptions list if you still want to receive notifications from the app in DND mode.
This will prevent all or most notifications from popping up on your lock screen during enabled hours. Just keep in mind that completely muting WhatsApp notifications may cause you to miss calls and messages.
Using WhatsApp Privacy Settings
Beyond your overall notification settings, WhatsApp itself also has some built-in privacy options that can help minimize info displayed on your lock screen:
- Profile Photo – Set your profile photo to viewable by Contacts Only or Nobody to avoid your profile pic popping up on notifications.
- Last Seen – Hide your Last Seen status from everyone or specific contacts.
- Read Receipts – Turn off read receipts to prevent showing when you’ve read a message.
Enabling these privacy options prevents sensitive WhatsApp activity from being exposed through lock screen notifications. But it doesn’t completely solve the problem of calls appearing on your lock screen.
Using a Third-Party Lock Screen App
If controlling your device notification settings doesn’t work, another option is to install a custom lock screen app. Many lock screen replacement apps have settings to specifically hide notification content on the lock screen.
Some popular lock screen apps to try include:
- Lock Screen – Notification Lock Screen
- Hi Locker – Lock Screens
- GO Locker – Theme & Call Lock Screen
- CM Locker – Security Lockscreen
The main downside to this approach is you have to replace the default lock screen experience on your phone. But it does give you an additional level of control over what information is displayed.
Using WhatsApp Business Profile
Here is one last simple trick that works if you only need to prevent specific WhatsApp numbers from showing call details on your lock screen:
- Have the person you want to block create a WhatsApp Business profile.
- Get them to share their new WhatsApp Business number with you.
- Delete their old personal WhatsApp number from your contacts.
- Save their new WhatsApp Business number to your contacts.
WhatsApp is designed to hide sensitive information like call screens and last seen status when contacting a WhatsApp Business account rather than a personal profile. So calls from their business number will no longer show on your lock screen.
Conclusion
Having your private WhatsApp calls pop up on your lock screen can be annoying and a potential security issue. Thankfully, both iPhone and Android provide settings to disable WhatsApp call notifications from appearing.
The specific steps involve turning off lock screen previews and minimizing call notifications. You can also use Do Not Disturb mode, WhatsApp privacy settings, third-party lock screen apps or WhatsApp Business accounts.
With a few simple taps, you can stop WhatsApp calls appearing on your lock screen and maintain your privacy. Just be aware that completely silencing WhatsApp notifications may cause you to miss important calls and messages.
But overall, you have full control over how much or how little information shows on your lock screen. So feel free to customize WhatsApp and your device notification settings to best suit your needs and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off lock screen notifications mute WhatsApp calls?
No, disabling lock screen previews only prevents call details and notifications from appearing on your lock screen. Your phone will still ring or vibrate when receiving a WhatsApp call, so you won’t miss it.
Can I stop my profile picture showing on notifications?
Yes, go into WhatsApp Privacy settings and change your profile photo visibility to Contacts Only or Nobody. This will prevent your profile picture from appearing in notifications.
Will hiding notifications drain my phone’s battery?
No, adjusting notification settings does not negatively impact battery life. The phone is still receiving notifications as normal, they are just not visually popping up on your lock screen.
Can I allow calls from certain contacts?
On iPhone you can allow show previews from select contacts under WhatsApp custom notifications settings. On Android you can set notifications from VIP contacts to override DND and always show.
Is there a way to auto-decline WhatsApp calls?
There’s no native setting to auto-decline calls, but some third party apps like Auto Decline for WhatsApp allow you to automatically reject calls from specific contacts.
Comparison of Notification Settings
| Setting | Android | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Lock Screen Previews | App Notifications > Show content | Notifications > Show Previews |
| Notification Dots | App Notifications > Show notification dot | Notifications > Badge App Icon |
| Sounds | App Notifications > Sound | Notifications > Sounds |
| Vibrations | App Notifications > Vibrate | Notifications > Vibration |
| Priority Override | App Notifications > Priority | Notifications > Priority |
| Do Not Disturb | Settings > Do Not Disturb | Settings > Do Not Disturb |
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp calls appear on your lock screen by default when receiving an incoming call.
- You can disable lock screen call notifications in your phone’s app settings.
- On iPhone, turn off Show Previews under WhatsApp custom notifications.
- On Android, minimize WhatsApp call notifications under App Notifications.
- Do Not Disturb mode can also be used to hide notifications when enabled.
- Custom lock screens or WhatsApp Business accounts provide additional options.
- Make sure to test receiving a WhatsApp call after changing notifications to confirm it no longer appears on your lock screen.
Troubleshooting Tips
WhatsApp call still shows on lock screen?
If you are still seeing WhatsApp call details on your lock screen after adjusting notifications, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Double check that you actually toggled off Show Previews/Call Notifications for WhatsApp.
- Restart your phone to ensure notification changes take effect.
- Verify Do Not Disturb mode is not overriding your settings during certain hours.
- Try using a third party lock screen app for more control over hiding sensitive info.
- On Android, be sure you selected “Minimize” and not just “No Sound” for Call Notifications.
- Make sure WhatsApp is not included in your priority interruptions list on iPhone.
Still can’t figure out why WhatsApp calls are showing on your lock screen? Get in touch with WhatsApp support for further troubleshooting assistance tailored to your specific device and settings.
Related Articles
If you found this guide helpful, you may want to read some of my related articles:
Hide WhatsApp Chat Previews on iPhone Lock Screen
Step-by-step instructions to prevent message content from appearing in WhatsApp notifications on your iPhone lock screen.
Stop WhatsApp Auto-Downloading Media on Mobile Data
An in-depth look at how to disable auto-download of photos, videos and other media when on mobile data networks to save data charges.
Change WhatsApp Chat Wallpaper on Android
Quick tutorial for customizing your WhatsApp background chat wallpaper on any Android device.
Conclusion
I hope this guide gave you a clear understanding of how to disable WhatsApp call notifications from popping up on your lock screen. Please feel free to reach out with any other questions! Stay connected privately and seamlessly with the right WhatsApp notification settings for you.