WhatsApp Web Adds a Lock Screen Feature to Tackle Unauthorized Access
A lock screen option has landed in the web version of WhatsApp, giving users a way to guard their messages when a computer or shared workstation might be accessed by others. The update was reported by the WABetaInfo portal as part of ongoing testing efforts.
The idea first surfaced in late 2022 and has since moved into a broader testing phase. WhatsApp Web for PC now includes a mechanism that blocks access to the messaging account until a dedicated password is entered after each restart or boot. This extra step helps ensure that anyone who sits down at a computer that already has WhatsApp open cannot read incoming messages without proper authentication.
If a user forgets the password, the only remedy is to end the current session and re-authorize the account by scanning a new QR code with a phone that already has an active WhatsApp session. This re-authentication flow ties the desktop experience to the mobile device, preserving the security link between both ends of the communication channel.
Enabling the lock screen feature directly protects user privacy by preventing unauthorized observers from viewing chats when the computer is unattended. In practice, push notifications for new messages will also be paused until the correct password is supplied, further limiting potential eavesdropping on a shared device.
At the moment, the block functionality is still under test and not yet part of the stable release of WhatsApp Web. A similar protective option exists across other platforms, including the Android and iOS versions of the messenger client, ensuring a consistent security profile for users who access their accounts from multiple devices.
In related tech discussions, there have been occasional comparisons between messaging platforms, including debates that arise when contrasting features like privacy controls and user experience across Telegram and WhatsApp. These conversations reflect differing approaches to security and usability, but WhatsApp continues to roll out guardrails designed to keep user data safer in day to day use.