WhatsApp has become an essential part of daily communication for millions of users. From personal conversations to office discussions and financial details, a lot of sensitive information is shared on the platform every day. While WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption, privacy experts say that true security depends on how users configure their settings.
Many people are unaware that WhatsApp provides several powerful privacy and security tools that, when used correctly, can significantly reduce the risk of data leaks, account hacking, or unauthorized access. If you want to ensure that no one can read your chats or misuse your account, these seven steps are crucial.
WhatsApp’s Privacy Checkup acts as a one-stop solution to control who can see your information. By going to Settings > Privacy > Privacy Checkup, users can decide who can view their profile photo, About section, and Status updates.
This section also allows you to manage:
Last Seen and Online visibility
Read receipts
Who can contact you
Who can add you to groups
Blocked contacts
Customizing these options ensures unwanted users cannot track your activity or reach you unnecessarily.
Although WhatsApp chats are encrypted, if someone gains access to your phone, they can still read old conversations. This is where Disappearing Messages become extremely useful.
Once enabled, messages automatically delete after a fixed period—24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. To activate this feature, go to Settings > Privacy > Default Message Timer.
This option reduces the risk of long-term data exposure and keeps your chat history clean and secure.
Two-step verification adds an extra security layer to your WhatsApp account. By setting a PIN, you ensure that even if someone gets your SIM card, they cannot easily access your WhatsApp.
To enable it:
Go to Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification
Set a secure PIN
Add an email address for recovery
WhatsApp also allows users to add a Passkey, making account access even safer.
WhatsApp now lets users lock the entire app or specific chats. This is particularly helpful if you share your phone with others or worry about unauthorized access.
iPhone users can use Face ID or Touch ID
Android users can use Fingerprint Lock
To activate app lock, go to Settings > Privacy > App Lock.
For extra protection, you can lock individual conversations using the Chat Lock feature, which hides chats in a separate folder.
To counter cyber fraud and spam, WhatsApp offers Advanced Privacy Options. These can be found under Settings > Privacy > Advanced.
Key benefits include:
Blocking messages from unknown numbers
Protecting IP address during calls
Disabling link previews
These settings help prevent tracking, phishing attempts, and scam messages.
This feature must be enabled separately for each personal or group chat. Once turned on, it prevents chats and media from being used outside WhatsApp, including for AI training.
It also stops automatic media downloads, reducing data exposure.
To activate it:
Open a chat
View Contact or Group Info
Select Advanced Chat Privacy and turn it on
This ensures conversations remain strictly private.
For maximum privacy while sharing sensitive content, WhatsApp offers the One-Time View feature. Photos, videos, or voice notes sent using this option can only be viewed or heard once.
To use it:
Select media
Tap the ‘1’ icon near the caption field
Send the message
For voice notes, swipe up while recording to enable one-time listening. This prevents forwarding, saving, or repeated viewing.
WhatsApp security isn’t just about encryption—it’s about how wisely you use the available tools. By enabling these seven settings, users can significantly strengthen their digital privacy and ensure their conversations remain confidential.
