WhatsApp now lets you use secret codes to lock your private chats
WhatsApp is making its Chat Lock tool even more secure by introducing secret codes that hide private chat rooms.
The way it currently works, Chat Lock takes conversations and places them in a separate folder that can only be accessed with your phone's password or a biometric login. This can be useful if you share the device with others. However, it doesn't stop other people who know the password from taking a look at any time. Secret Codes addresses this by allowing users to implement a second password, separate from “what you use to unlock your phone”. Creating one, according to WhatsApp's announcementmakes your locked folder disappear from your inbox as an extra layer of privacy.
To make hidden chats reappear, the company says you'll need to type your recently created code directly into the search bar on the main page. If you don't want the locked folder to be kept completely, you can leave it there.
WhatsApp also makes it easier to lock chats. All you have to do now is long-press on a conversation, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and then select Lock Chat from the drop-down menu.
How to add a secret code
Let's say you have some locked chats that you want to keep hidden.
To get started, tap the three dots in the top right corner and then select Chat Lock Settings. Activate the secret code and create a password. What's interesting is that you can use emojis in the code alongside numbers, letters and punctuation marks and get quite creative. Please note that the password you create must be four characters long or consist of one emoji.
We have a few examples in the image below.
Now if you go to the main page, the locked folder will be gone (although you can disable the disappearing folder by unchecking Hide locked chats in the settings). Type the code you just entered into the search bar to make the conversations appear again.
Please note that this update is only for WhatsApp on mobile as the locked chats are not present anywhere else. No word on whether any of these features will make their way to the desktop. Secret Codes is rolling out and will be available worldwide “in the coming months.” Keep an eye out for the patch when it arrives.
Busy week
The past week has been a busy one for WhatsApp, as the platform recently rolled out two other updates. We first saw the desktop app gain the ability to send “self-destructing photos and videos,” which automatically delete themselves once opened. A little before that, WhatsApp released a beta that gave select users access to AI assistants, with most having a unique “personality” like the anime nerd and the dungeon master who tells you an adventure of your choosing. story.
Big things are happening on WhatsApp and there are no signs of slowing down anytime soon. While we still have you, we encourage you to follow Ny Breaking's official WhatsApp channel to receive our latest reviews straight to your phone.