Password messages
In mid-May, WhatsApp announced a new feature called “Close Chat”. It allows users to hide dialogs in a special folder with password and fingerprint protection.
According to the company’s official blog, the innovation is designed specifically to enhance the privacy of sensitive personal communications. In addition, messages from private chats will not appear in notifications on the device screen.
To use the “Close chat” function, you must select the desired dialog and click on the name of the interlocutor or the group name. Next, you must enable the corresponding item in the settings. To access secret chats, you need to enter your phone password or scan biometric data. In the future, they promise to provide the ability to create a different password than the one used to unlock the smartphone.
This feature can be useful if you have given your device to someone else and do not want them to see your private messages.
The “Turn Off Chat” feature is gradually rolling out to all devices. In the near future, the developers also plan to add the ability to turn off chats on connected devices and create a unique password to access correspondence.
whatsapp protected
The operating system of some smartphones has a built-in application protection system that uses passwords and biometric data. Using the device’s own capabilities, you can protect instant messengers, browsers, and other applications that contain personal data. If your smartphone does not provide such an opportunity, but you want to protect WhatsApp from prying eyes, go to the messenger settings – “Privacy” and find the “Fingerprint lock” section at the very bottom of the list.
In the same section you can set the time for the application to be blocked automatically, after which it will be impossible to open without confirmation by biometrics. But incoming calls cannot be protected at the same time – anyone can answer.
correspondence with myself
Few people think about it, but it is a very useful feature that can be used to message yourself, take notes or store important messages.
Self Chat looks and works like regular chat, but does not support audio and video calls, muting notifications, blocking or sending complaints. Also, it cannot see the time of the last visit and its “online” status.
To write your first letter to yourself, you need to click on the round button to start a dialogue in the lower right corner of the screen (on Android) or the button with a pencil in the upper right corner (on iPhone). You will be the first person on the list – this will be indicated by the number and the suffix “(You)” in parentheses.
One account for four devices
For a long time, WhatsApp users have criticized the messenger for not being able to link an account to multiple devices. All that was available was to link a profile from a smartphone to an application or web version on a PC, and also provided that the smartphone is connected to the network.
Now those times are gone, and one account can be linked to four devices, for example, a computer, laptop, second smartphone, tablet – a total of five devices, which can have one profile.
Also, to use WhatsApp on one of the gadgets, the “main” does not need to be connected to the network.
To connect a new device, you need to click on the three dots in the upper right corner (on Android) or go to settings (on iPhone), select the “Connect devices” section and scan the QR code from the main device.
chat with a stranger
One of the main inconveniences in WhatsApp is the inability to write to someone without adding them to the contacts. In any case, many users of the messenger think so. However, WhatsApp has a hidden feature that allows you to circumvent this limitation.
So, in order not to confuse the contact list, you just need to enter it in the address bar of the browser: “wa.me/7***”, where * is the phone number of the user.
Likewise, for example, you can share your “WhatsApp business card” by saving your own number in this format.
This has already happened on Telegram
WhatsApp has long had the function of deleting a message, but the ability to change the sent message is not yet available – at least in the stable build of the messenger. However, if you become a beta tester, special and hidden features are unlocked for users who, as a rule, reach “normal” users for a very long time.
For example, you can now edit sent messages by downloading the beta version of WhatsApp for Android. To correct a mistake or complete a sent letter, press and hold the message, click the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Edit”. After all, you need to click the checkmark.
It is important to note that only 15 minutes are given to change the message, and your interlocutor will also see a note about editing the message.
You can only edit a text message – if a media file is attached to the text, it will no longer be possible to edit it.
how to download whatsapp beta
There is an opinion among users that beta versions work with bugs. That’s not the case – in any case, beta versions of WhatsApp work just as well as the supposedly stable build. At the same time, new features are made available to users a few months before they reach “regular” versions.
To download the beta version of WhatsApp on Android, you can sign up for the test via the Google Play page, but the easiest way is to go to the reliable TechSpot portal and enter the appropriate query in the search, download the APK file from there and install the application over the existing one. All user files are untouched
In the case of the iPhone, things are a little more complicated – Android users can download the app manually, while Apple smartphone owners must join the official TestFlight testing program. Its set is limited, which makes it extremely difficult to get into messenger testers.