Security and privacy are taken seriously by WhatsApp, with the app regularly getting new security features and improvements to existing features. The latter is what the latest WhatsApp beta update is focused on.
When chats are locked in WhatsApp, those chats can be accessed from the Locked chats folder at the top of your chat inbox, but what if you want to hide the fact that you have any locked chats at all? In version 2.23.24.20 of the WhatsApp beta app for Android, some testers have access to new options that let them completely hide their locked chats and secure them with a secret code.
These options are found in the newly added Chat lock settings subsection of WhatsApp's settings. When both are enabled, the locked chats folder will disappear from your inbox, and to access it you will have to enter the secret code in the search bar within the Chats tab. If you only hide the locked chats folder, you will have to use your device PIN in the search bar.
As with every other feature that is first introduced through the beta version of WhatsApp, those on the non-beta WhatsApp app will have to wait for the ability to hide locked chats behind a code, though it's tough to say exactly how long they will have to wait.
If you're using the WhatsApp beta, you can download the latest update (2.23.24.20) from the Play Store on your Galaxy/Android smartphone.