A step-by-step guide to locking individual chats, hiding them with a secret code, and using app lock and two-step verification to keep your WhatsApp private

Most of us hand our phones to family members, friends or colleagues every day, to show a photo, make a call or let a child watch a video. But your WhatsApp may hold private conversations: bank details, health updates, work discussions or family matters. WhatsApp’s Chat Lock feature lets you put specific conversations behind your fingerprint, face or a secret code, without locking the whole app. In this guide, we explain how to lock WhatsApp chats on Android and iPhone, how to hide them completely, and which other settings keep your account safe.

Quick Answer

To lock WhatsApp chats, press and hold a chat in your chat list and tap Lock chat (on Android, tap the three dots first, then Lock chat). The chat moves into a Locked chats folder that opens only with your phone’s fingerprint, face or passcode. To open it, swipe down on the chat list and tap Locked chats. For extra privacy, set a secret code and turn on Hide locked chats, so the folder disappears and opens only when you type the code in the search bar. The other person is not notified when you lock a chat.

What Is WhatsApp Chat Lock?

When you lock WhatsApp chats, Chat Lock moves the selected conversations into a separate, protected Locked chats folder. According to a summary of WhatsApp’s Help Center by Kanal:

• Locked chats need your phone’s biometric lock or passcode, or a secret code, to open
• Notifications from locked chats hide the contact’s name and message
• Locked chats close automatically when you lock your phone
• The other person isn’t told that you’ve locked the chat

Before you start: to lock WhatsApp chats, you need a screen lock (fingerprint, face unlock or passcode) set up on your phone, and the latest version of WhatsApp from the Play Store or App Store.

How to Lock WhatsApp Chats on Android

Here’s how to lock WhatsApp chats on an Android phone:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
2. Press and hold the chat you want to lock.
3. Tap the three dots (⋮) at the top right.
4. Tap Lock chat.
5. Confirm with your fingerprint, face or passcode.

The chat now disappears from your main list and moves into the Locked chats folder at the top.

How to Lock WhatsApp Chats on iPhone

Follow these steps to lock WhatsApp chats on an iPhone:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Chats.
2. Press and hold the chat you want to lock.
3. Tap Lock chat.
4. Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.

You can lock WhatsApp chats one by one, including group chats, in the same way.

How to Open Locked Chats

Once you lock WhatsApp chats, here’s how to open them:

1. On the Chats tab, swipe down on the chat list.
2. Tap Locked chats.
3. Unlock with your fingerprint, face or passcode, or tap Use secret code.

How to Hide Locked Chats With a Secret Code

The Locked chats folder still shows at the top of your chat list, so anyone looking at your phone knows you have locked chats. A secret code solves this, and also lets you open locked chats on WhatsApp Web, Windows and iPad.

Set a secret code:

1. Open the Locked chats folder.
2. On Android, tap the three dots (⋮), then Chat lock settings. On iPhone, tap Settings inside the folder.
3. Tap Secret code, enter a code, and enter it again to confirm.

A secret code can include letters and emojis, according to Android Police. Choose something memorable but hard to guess, and don’t use your phone PIN.

Hide the folder:

1. In the same Chat lock settings, turn on Hide locked chats.
2. The Locked chats folder disappears from your chat list.
3. To open your chats, type your secret code in the search bar on the Chats tab.

How to Unlock a Chat

Changed your mind? Unlocking is as easy as it was to lock WhatsApp chats:

1. Open the Locked chats folder.
2. Press and hold the chat.
3. Tap Unlock chat and confirm.

The chat returns to your normal chat list.

Forgot Your Secret Code? Read This First

There is no way to recover a forgotten secret code. The only option is Settings → Privacy → Chat lock → Unlock and clear locked chats. This removes the code and deletes all messages, photos and videos in your locked chats. You can only get them back from a backup made before you cleared them.

Tip: write your secret code down somewhere safe, such as a password manager, before you hide your locked chats.

Chat Lock vs App Lock: Which Should You Use?

You can use both at the same time: app lock for the whole app, and chat lock for your most private conversations.

More Ways to Protect Your WhatsApp

When you lock WhatsApp chats, you protect them from people who use your phone. To protect your account from hackers and scammers, also do this:

1. Turn on two-step verification: go to Settings → Account → Two-step verification and set a 6-digit PIN. This stops someone from registering your number on another phone, even if they get your OTP.
2. Never share your WhatsApp OTP: the 6-digit code WhatsApp sends by SMS should never be shared, even with someone claiming to be a friend or WhatsApp support.
3. Check linked devices: go to Settings → Linked devices and log out of any computer you don’t recognise.
4. Turn on end-to-end encrypted backups: go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup → End-to-end encrypted backup, so your backups are also protected.
5. Control your privacy: under Settings → Privacy, limit who can see your profile photo, last seen and status, and who can add you to groups.

Limitations of Chat Lock

Before you lock WhatsApp chats, keep these limits in mind:

• Chat Lock isn’t supported on WhatsApp for Mac, according to Kanal’s summary of WhatsApp’s Help Center.
• Calls from contacts in locked chats still ring normally.
• Media from locked chats can’t be set to save automatically to your gallery, though you can save items manually.
• Anyone who knows your passcode or secret code can open your locked chats, so keep them private.
• If you restore a backup on a new phone, your chats stay locked, and you’ll need to set up your phone’s screen lock to open them.

Also read: Spot and Report UPI Scams

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I lock WhatsApp chats?
Press and hold the chat, tap Lock chat (on Android, tap the three dots first), and confirm with your fingerprint, face or passcode.

Is it free to lock WhatsApp chats?
Yes. Chat Lock is a free, built-in WhatsApp feature on Android and iPhone.

Will the other person know if I lock our chat?
No. WhatsApp does not notify the other person when you lock a chat.

Can I lock WhatsApp chats on WhatsApp Web?
Yes, if you have set a secret code on your phone. You can then open locked chats on WhatsApp Web, Windows and iPad using that code. Chat lock is not supported on WhatsApp for Mac.

How do I hide locked chats completely?
Set a secret code in Chat lock settings and turn on Hide locked chats. Then type your secret code in the search bar to find them.

What happens if I forget my secret code?
You must use “Unlock and clear locked chats”, which deletes all messages and media in those chats. You can only restore them from an earlier backup.

Conclusion

WhatsApp’s Chat Lock is one of the easiest ways to keep private conversations private, especially when you often share your phone. In a few taps you can lock WhatsApp chats with your fingerprint, face or passcode, hide them behind a secret code, and even open them on WhatsApp Web. Combine chat lock with app lock, two-step verification and encrypted backups, and never share your OTP, and your WhatsApp will be protected both from curious eyes and from scammers.

My take: I believe WhatsApp privacy should be a basic digital habit for everyone, not just for people who have something to hide. Our conversations often contain personal information, family matters, financial details and work discussions that deserve protection. Features like Chat Lock, Secret Code and App Lock make this easy, even when we share our phones with others. However, locking chats alone is not enough. We should also turn on two-step verification, regularly check linked devices, secure our backups and never share our OTP with anyone.

My advice is simple: don’t wait for a privacy problem to happen. Take a few minutes today to lock your sensitive chats, turn on two-step verification and review your linked devices. A little caution now can prevent a lot of trouble later. Remember, privacy is not secrecy; it is control over who can access your personal information. I would conclude by saying: “Your phone holds your digital life. Protecting your WhatsApp is one small step toward protecting it.”

Over to You

Do you use Chat Lock or App Lock on WhatsApp? Share which one you prefer, and why, in the comments below.