WhatsApp has been adding a lot of features to its apps lately. Some of the biggest features it added over the past year include data transfer between Android and iOS smartphones and the ability to use the same WhatsApp number on more than one device. Now, the company is bringing a much-requested feature: Chat Lock for individual threads.
WhatsApp's Chat Lock feature offers an additional layer of security
The company announced on its official blog that it is rolling out the locking mechanism for individual chat threads on its Android app. On top of the app lock, the chat thread lock feature offers an additional layer of security. Locking a chat thread takes that conversation out of the list and places it inside the Locked Chats folder. Opening that folder requires a password or a biometric mechanism such as a fingerprint. WhatsApp also hides notifications received from that chat thread.
This feature will be incredibly helpful if you want to hide chat from a family member or if someone else is using your phone for a moment. You can lock a chat by clicking on the name of a one-to-one chat and selecting the lock option. This feature doesn't work with group chats, though, and this is something WhatsApp should work on in the future.
WhatsApp plans to add more Chat Lock options, including the locking feature on companion devices and the creation of custom passwords to lock each chat thread. The Chat Lock feature is rolling out now, and you can install the latest version of WhatsApp on your Samsung phone from the Play Store.
