WhatsApp has started working on a new security feature called “Restricted Chat” to further strengthen users’ privacy, through which specific chats can be prevented from being opened on linked devices.
According to a media report, this new feature has currently been introduced in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android and is being presented as an additional security tool under Advanced Chat Privacy.
What is Restricted Chat?
Restricted Chat is an optional security feature that users will have to enable themselves. The feature will be turned off by default, and users will be able to apply it to a specific chat according to their preference. After enabling this feature, the selected chat will not be accessible from any linked device other than the primary phone.
How can the feature be enabled?
To restrict a chat, the user will have to open the desired chat and tap on the contact’s name at the top. After that, by going to the Chat Info screen and scrolling down, the Restricted Chat option will appear. After enabling it, additional privacy restrictions will be applied to the relevant chat.
What will change in Restricted Chat?
After the feature is enabled, several security restrictions will be applied to the selected chat. WhatsApp will not automatically save media files received from this chat to the phone’s gallery. In addition, neither of the two people in the chat will be able to export the conversation.
Meta AI-related features will also be disabled in Restricted Chat. Most importantly, the chat will not be accessible from any linked device other than the primary device.
Currently not available for group chats
According to the report, the feature currently works only for individual chats. The option to restrict group chats is not available at present. Restricted Chat will apply to both users involved in the conversation, meaning the security restrictions within the chat will apply on both sides.
When will it be available to all users?
WhatsApp has currently released the feature only to a limited group of beta users. Therefore, no final date has been announced for its availability to general users. It is also possible that WhatsApp may make further changes to the feature before releasing the final version.
Meanwhile, chats protected under WhatsApp’s existing Advanced Chat Privacy feature will continue to remain available on linked devices.