WhatsApp has become the most popular messaging app globally, with over 2 billion monthly active users. It offers end-to-end encryption for secure messaging between individuals and groups. However, sometimes you may send an inappropriate message or share something too personal that you later regret.
Fortunately, WhatsApp provides features to hide, retract, or delete messages to maintain your privacy. This article explains how to use these features effectively.
Table of Contents
Hiding Chats
You can hide specific chats from the main WhatsApp screen using the archiving feature:
On Android
- Open WhatsApp and long press the chat you want to hide
- Tap Archive at the top
The chat disappears from your main chat list but remains accessible if you tap on Archived Chats.
On iPhone
- Swipe left on the chat you want to hide
- Tap Archive
The chat will now only be visible under Archived Chats.
Locking Chats
WhatsApp recently introduced the Chat Lock feature that adds an extra layer of security to hide your conversations.
On Android & iPhone
- Open the chat you want to lock
- Tap the contact or group name to open info
- Enable Lock Chat
- Set a password, PIN or biometric lock
You’ll need to authenticate every time to access the locked chat.
Retracting Messages
If you send an incorrect message, you can retract it from the recipient’s phone:
On Android & iPhone
- Open the chat
- Long press the message
- Choose Delete > Delete for Everyone
The message will be replaced with “This message was deleted” for your recipient.
You have up to 2 days after sending a message to delete it. This feature also works for media files and group messages if all participants are on the latest WhatsApp version.
Disappearing Messages
You can make all new messages in a chat disappear after 7 days automatically:
- Open the chat
- Tap contact/group name
- Enable Disappearing Messages
Existing messages will remain visible but new ones will delete after the set duration.
Read Receipts & Online Status
Disable read receipts and last seen status to stop recipients from knowing if you’ve read their messages or when you were last online.
Go to Settings > Account > Privacy to customize these options.
Conclusion
WhatsApp gives you control over your privacy. Use features like archiving, locking chats, disappearing messages and turning off read receipts to hide your messages and online activity from others when needed.
But remember, nothing is 100% foolproof. The recipient can always screenshot your messages before they disappear or use unauthorized apps to retrieve deleted messages from local backups. So be careful about the sensitive content you share on any digital platform.
