If you often share sensitive information in WhatsApp group chats, a new privacy tool may be what you need. WhatsApp has rolled out Advanced Chat Privacy, which is designed to keep your private conversations locked inside the app.
This update offers added control, making it much harder for chat content to leave WhatsApp through official features. From personal discussions to confidential work chats, you’ll now have stronger protection for what you share.
What Advanced Chat Privacy does
With Advanced Chat Privacy switched on, you can ensure your conversations remain private. The feature prevents people from exporting chat messages, blocks media auto-downloading to their devices, and prevents AI-powered features from accessing chat content.
It closes nearly every door that might let chat content slip out, at least through WhatsApp’s built-in options. According to Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, this tool is especially useful in group chats discussing delicate matters — like those in a mental health support community or private business conversations.
While this is a big step forward for user privacy, there is still one area the feature doesn’t cover: screenshots and screen recordings. A spokesperson from Meta confirmed that these are not yet blocked but assured users that more updates are on the way. Meta says it’s already working on expanding the privacy tools to include even stronger protection in the future.
This update is worth exploring if you value digital privacy, especially when discussing sensitive topics.
How to turn Advanced Chat Privacy on or off
Activating this new setting is easy. Just follow these steps:
- Open the group chat where you want more privacy.
- Tap the chat’s name at the top to open its info page.
- Scroll down to the section that includes settings like Disappearing Messages, Lock Chat, and Encryption.
- You’ll see a new toggle for Advanced Chat Privacy if the update is available.
- Could you turn it on or off as needed?
If you haven’t seen the option yet, ensure your WhatsApp app is fully updated to the latest version, and then try again.
Other privacy tools worth using
While Advanced Chat Privacy adds another layer of protection, WhatsApp already has several helpful privacy features that are worth considering:
- Lock Chat: You can protect a chat using a secret code, keeping it hidden and inaccessible to others who may use your phone.
- View Once: This allows you to send messages, photos, or videos that can only be seen once before they disappear.
- Disappearing Messages: You can set your messages to vanish after a specific period and choose whether someone can save them.
Each tool offers a different way to stay in control of your conversations. Whether you’re chatting with friends, family, or colleagues, WhatsApp now gives you more options than ever to keep your chats private.
As privacy becomes more important to users everywhere, WhatsApp’s continued improvements are a welcome move — even if there’s still room to grow.
