WhatsApp announced Chat Lock, a new feature aimed at further securing your private messages. With Chat Lock, you can add an extra layer of protection to your most intimate conversations.

When you lock a chat, it is moved to a dedicated folder separate from your inbox. Access to this folder is restricted to your device password or biometric authentication, such as fingerprint recognition. Moreover, the contents of locked chats are automatically hidden in notifications, ensuring maximum privacy.

Chat Lock is especially useful for individuals who occasionally share their phones with family members or find themselves in situations where someone else might handle their device when sensitive chats arrive. To lock a chat, simply select the lock option after tapping the name of the one-to-one or group conversation. When you want to view these locked chats, slowly pull down on your inbox, enter your phone password or use biometric authentication.

In the coming months, WhatsApp plans to introduce additional options for Chat Lock. These will include the ability to lock chats on companion devices and the option to create a custom password exclusively for your chats, separate from your phone’s password.