WhatsApp has added a new feature to the messaging platform which allows people to use the app even in regions where governing authorities have blocked the messaging service. This new feature is the ability for the app to work over a proxy server.
What is a proxy server and how can you use it in WhatsApp to bypass internet blocks?
For those who don’t know about a proxy server, it is a system that acts as an intermediary between a device or service and the internet. That means, if a government blocks WhatsApp in a region, people can enter the address of a proxy server, which the government hasn't blocked, in the app. This will allow WhatsApp to communicate over that server, allowing you to use the messaging service without any issues.
WhatsApp, however, won’t provide proxy servers to users. It means that people will have to search for a proxy server that’s working in their region and then enter that proxy server’s address in the app. There are many free-to-use proxy servers worldwide set up by volunteers and organizations. According to WhatsApp, your messages/data will be end-to-end encrypted even when you use the app through a proxy server.
In the announcement post, WhatsApp gave an example of Iran where the governing authority had blocked all the services from Meta (such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) for months, to explain how useful the new feature would prove to be.
How to use WhatsApp's Proxy Server feature?
To use the Proxy Server feature on WhatsApp, download and install the WhatsApp app on your phone. Once you have set up the app and registered with your phone number, do the following:
- Open WhatsApp and navigate to Settings.
- Now, click on Storage and Data » Proxy » Use Proxy » Set Proxy.
- Now, enter the proxy server's address and click on the Save button.
