Password messages
In mid-May, WhatsApp rolled out a feature called Close Chat. It lets users hide conversations in a secure folder protected by a password and biometric verification.
As described in the official blog, the aim is to strengthen privacy for sensitive personal exchanges. Messages from private chats also won’t appear in device notifications.
To use Close Chat, select the conversation and tap the interlocutor’s name or the group name. Then enable the corresponding setting. Access to secret chats requires a phone password or biometric authentication. In a future update, there will be an option to use a separate password from the phone unlock code.
This feature can be handy if someone else uses the device and you don’t want your private messages visible.
Turn Off Chat is gradually rolling out to all devices. Soon, developers also plan to let users disable chats on connected devices and create a unique password for accessing conversations.
whatsapp protected
Some smartphone operating systems include built‑in app protection that uses passwords and biometrics. You can guard WhatsApp, browsers, and other apps that hold personal data using the device’s own protections. If your device lacks this capability, go to the app’s Settings, then Privacy, and look for Fingerprint lock near the bottom of the list.
In that same area you can set an auto‑lock timer so the app requires biometric confirmation after a period of inactivity. Note that incoming calls cannot be locked in the same way, so they can still be answered without unlocking the app.
correspondence with myself
Many overlook a small but useful feature: messaging yourself for notes, reminders, or important messages.
Self Chat looks and behaves like a normal chat, but it can’t handle audio or video calls, can’t mute notifications, can’t block contacts, and can’t report issues. It also hides last seen and online status.
To start a self‑message thread, tap the round button to begin a chat in the lower right corner on Android, or the pencil icon in the upper right corner on iPhone. The first contact will be you, indicated by your number with the text “(You)” after it.
One account for four devices
Whispered complaints about multi‑device support grew loud for years. Previously, linking a WhatsApp account to multiple devices required the phone to stay connected and act as the hub.
Now a single account can be used on four devices—computer, laptop, a second phone, and a tablet—while still sharing one profile.
Using WhatsApp on any of these devices does not require the primary device to be online at all times.
To connect a new device, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner on Android or go to Settings on iPhone, choose Connect devices, and scan the QR code from the main device.
chat with a stranger
One common frustration is the need to add someone to contacts before messaging them. Some users have wished for a workaround. WhatsApp does offer a hidden shortcut to connect without adding a contact.
To reach someone without saving their number, enter wa.me/7XXX in the browser address bar, replacing XXX with the person’s phone number. You can also share your own WhatsApp business card by saving your number in this format.
This has already happened on Telegram
WhatsApp has long allowed message deletion but editing sent messages isn’t universally available in the stable build. Beta testers, however, sometimes get access to hidden features that remain out of reach for regular users for a long time.
For example, editing sent messages via the Android beta is possible by long‑pressing the message, tapping the three dots, selecting Edit, and then confirming with the checkmark. The edit window is limited to about 15 minutes, and the recipient will see the edit note. Media files attached to the message cannot be edited.
how to download whatsapp beta
Many users worry beta versions carry bugs. In practice, beta builds function as well as the stable release, with new features arriving months early for eager testers.
To grab the Android beta, join the Google Play testing program or visit a trusted site like TechSpot to download an APK and install it over the existing app. Your files remain intact.
For iPhone users, the process is a bit different: Android users can sideload the app, while iPhone owners must join Apple’s official TestFlight program. Availability is limited, which makes entry into beta testing more selective.