WhatsApp users will soon be able to access their locked chats with secret code

Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out a new secret code feature for locked chats on Android to some beta testers. This feature discards the need to use PIN to unlock chats and rather, lets users use a secret code to access them.

According to WABetaInfo, a new settings section might be available within the list of users’ locked chats, providing them with the option to hide the entry point to open locked chats.

“Specifically, after configuring a secret code, the entry point to view locked chats will no longer appear in the chat list. Instead, users can access these chats by entering the secret code into the search bar within the Chats tab,” the report noted.

With this feature, the report mentioned that users gain enhanced privacy by removing the entry point to the locked chats list, others won’t be able to easily identify or access the conversations that are locked. This will ensure that others can’t easily identify or access these secured conversations, effectively preventing accidental or unauthorised entry into sensitive discussions.

With the locked chats list hidden, even if someone gains physical access to a user’s phone, they won’t be able to see your sensitive conversations.

In addition, hiding the list of locked conversations helps prevent exposure because anyone can understand that there may be some locked conversations, according to the report.

It’s unclear when this feature will be available in the stable version of the app.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp has added a new ‘Protect IP Address in Calls’ option that helps hide your location from other parties on the call.

The new option hides your IP address from the other party by relaying calls through WhatsApp Servers, ensuring that other parties in the call cannot see your IP and subsequently deduce your general geographical location.

This IP address feature is available on both Android and iOS devices. To use this feature, users first need to update WhatsApp on their smartphone to the latest version. Once done, they can follow the steps below.

Step 1: Open WhatsApp

Step 2: Tap on Settings on the top right for Android (tap on profile picture to access it) and at the bottom for iOS

Step 3: Tap on Privacy

Step 4: Scroll below, look for the Advance option, and tap on it

Step 5: Now, toggle on the ‘Protect IP address in calls’ option.

—Written with inputs from IANS