WhatsApp Inc. utilizes all available means to ensure the free chatting app is secure and safe to use by introducing different features including end-to-end encryption, advanced features to protect IP addresses in calls and chat locks on Android, iPhone and WhatsApp web. So, in this article, we will consider how to lock WhatsApp on iPhone, Android and WhatsApp and other WhatsApp features that you need to turn on to protect your WhatsApp account.
What is WhatsApp Lock
WhatsApp lock comes in different ways. The feature to lock your WhatsApp account to restrict all unauthorized access to your account with either fingerprint lock or passcode. You can also lock WhatsApp chat [individual] and hide them from the public on your WhatsApp account.
So, WhatsApp lock is a feature to add a passcode or fingerprint lock to your WhatsApp to protect your account from unauthorized users. WhatsApp lock is available for iPhone, Android and WhatsApp web [Windows].
Therefore, to learn how to lock your WhatsApp you need to follow the steps in this article.
Recommended: How to Lock WhatsApp on Android
How to Lock WhatsApp on WhatsApp Web
With the steps below you can easily lock your WhatsApp account while using the WhatsApp web.
- Go to web.whatsapp.com on your Windows browser.
- Log in to your WhatsApp using the “QR Code.”
- Click on the “Menu (3 dots)” at the top right of the profile (on your WhatsApp profile).
- Select “Settings” from the drop menu.
- Click on “Privacy.”
- Scroll down and click on “Screen Lock.”
- Check the “Screen Lock” option.
- Set a password and tap “OK” to save changes.
- Choose how fast your WhatsApp chat lock should work under “Use Screen Lock for Privacy.”
Your WhatsApp account will be locked once the time frame selected is up.
How to Lock WhatsApp Chat on Android
There are two ways to lock your WhatsApp chat on your Android phone. First, you can lock your entire WhatsApp account; secondly, you can lock individual chats separately.
Lock WhatsApp Account
The step below will show you how to lock your WhatsApp account with your fingerprint.
- Open the “WhatsApp” app on your “Android.”
- Tap on the “Profile” icon at the top right.
- Tap “Privacy.”
- Scroll down and select “Fingerprint Lock.”
- Enable “Unlock with Fingerprint.”
- Verify your “Fingerprint.”
- Choose the interval under “Automatically lock.”
To show your WhatsApp messages or content when the screen is locked turn on “Show content in notifications.”
Lock WhatsApp Chat
If you don’t want to lock your entire WhatsApp account you can lock individual chat. Taking the steps below will show you how to lock your WhatsApp chat.
- Open the “WhatsApp” app on your “Android.”
- Select the “Chat” you want to lock.
- Tap on the “Profile” picture.
- Scroll down and toggle on the “Chat Lock” button.
- Tap “Continue” from the even.
- Confirm with your “Fingerprint” or “Face Lock” to lock the chat.
The selected chat will be locked and hidden from your WhatsApp chat page.
Unlock WhatsApp Chat
The locked WhatsApp chat will be hidden from the WhatsApp homepage. However, to access it you simply need to swipe down the WhatsApp page and click on “Locked Chat” to reveal all locked WhatsApp chats.
Now, to unlock locked WhatsApp chat kindly take the following steps.
- Swipe down your “WhatsApp Chat” screen.
- Tap “Locked Chats.”
- Click on the “Chats” you want to unlock.
- Tap on the “Profile Name.”
- Scroll down and tap the “Blue” icon opposite “Chat Lock.”
- Confirm your “Password” or “Fingerprint.”
The chat lock option will be disabled and the locked chat will be unlocked.
How to Lock WhatsApp on iPhone
If you take the steps below you will be able to lock WhatsApp on your iPhone. However, you can lock your WhatsApp chat to restrict unauthorized access to it. You can also lock chat only on your WhatsApp without locking the WhatsApp app completely on your iPhone.
Lock WhatsApp on iPhone
If you are particular about how you can lock WhatsApp on your iPhone just take the following steps.
- Launch the “WhatsApp” app on your “iPhone.”
- Tap on “Settings” at the bottom right.
- Choose “Privacy.”
- Scroll down and select “Screen Lock.”
- Toggle on the option to “Require Face ID.”
- Choose your “Lock” interval.
Your WhatsApp app will be locked and will start requesting your Face ID each time it’s locked to be able to access or unlock it.
How to Lock WhatsApp Chat on iPhone
The steps above will not lock your WhatsApp chat rather it will lock the WhatsApp app. To lock chats on your WhatsApp account you need to take the following steps.
- Launch your “WhatsApp” messaging app.
- Tap on “Chats.”
- Click on the “Profile” whose chat you want to lock.
- Tap on the “Profile Name.”
- Scroll down and tap “Chat Lock.”
- Toggle on “Lock This Chat with Face ID.”
- Confirm your “Face ID.”
- You will see a popup that says “This Chat is Now Locked.”
You can either view it or undo it. You will see this under “Locked Chats.”
Once a WhatsApp chat is locked on your iPhone you will see “Locked Chats” under “Chats.” To unlock the chat click on “Locked Chats” >> “Tap the Profile Name” >> ” Profile Name” >> “Chat Lock” >> Toggle off “Lock This Chat with Face ID” then you need to confirm your Face ID to remove the chat from locked.