HIGHLIGHTS

* The instant messaging platform is working on several new features.
* The upcoming WhatsApp feature will let users the ability to lock and hide chats.
* WhatsApp users can lock the chat with their fingerprints when the feature is live.
* WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, is reportedly working on a new feature called the Lock Chat.
* The feature is currently being tested on the Android beta version.
* The new feature is expected to allow users to lock their private chats within the chat’s contact or group info.

With an aim to provide a better user experience, Meta-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp is working on several new features, including audio chat, edit messages, short video messages, and much more.

However, according to a new report, the platform might soon let users lock and hide their private chats.

According to WABetalnfo, the upcoming feature was discovered via the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.8.2 update on the Google Play Store.

The upcoming feature will give users an extra layer of security, making it harder for people to listen in on their private conversations.

It will be available for users in a future update of the app.

WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, is reportedly working on a new feature called the Lock Chat.

The feature is currently being tested on the Android beta version. This means that WhatsApp has not rolled it out for wider audience.

The new feature is expected to allow users to lock their private chats within the chat’s contact or group info.

This means that users can have complete control over who can access their personal chats, enhancing their privacy and security.

According to the Wabetainfo report, when a chat is locked, only the user can access it using their fingerprint or passcode, which makes it almost impossible for anyone else to open the chat.

If anyone attempts to access the user’s phone without providing the necessary authentication, they will be prompted to clear the chat before accessing it.

Lock chats, Hide Photos on WhatsApp

The report notes that you will be able to lock your most private chats in the contact or group information for the chat.

After you add a chat to your list of locked chats, it will only be accessible from this screen.
Once a chat is locked, it can only be opened with the user’s fingerprint or passcode, making it nearly impossible for anyone else to access.

To protect your privacy, a locked chat can’t be opened without a fingerprint or passcode.
Also, if someone tries to get into your phone but doesn’t have the right authentication, they will be asked to clear the chat before they can get in.

The upcoming WhatsApp feature will also help keep your media private because it ensures that photos and videos sent in a locked chat don’t get saved automatically to the device’s gallery, the report said.

According to the report, features like the ability to lock chats, audio chat, edit messages, and short video messages are currently under development and will be launched in a future update.

The company has not yet officially spoken about these upcoming features.

FAQ’s on WhatsApp New Feature

1) What is the new Lock chat feature of WhatsApp?

Ans) The Lock chat feature also ensures that photos and videos sent in a locked chat are not automatically saved to the device’s gallery. This additional layer of protection can prevent sensitive media from being viewed by anyone other than the intended recipient, providing greater peace of mind for users.

The Lock chat feature is still in the development stage, and a release date is yet to be announced. However, this feature is a significant step towards improving privacy on WhatsApp and gives users greater control over their conversations and media.

In addition to the Lock chat feature, WhatsApp is also testing a new text editor experience for some beta testers on Android beta.

This new text editor aims to enhance the typing experience and offer additional formatting options to users.

It’s worth noting that privacy and security have been an area of concern for WhatsApp in recent years, especially following the implementation of new privacy policies.

The company has been working to address these concerns and reassure users that their data is secure.

The Lock chat feature is just one of several measures that WhatsApp is implementing to protect user privacy.

WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption also ensures that only the sender and recipient can read the messages, making it difficult for anyone else to intercept or access the conversations.
WhatsApp’s Lock chat feature is a welcome development for users who prioritize privacy and security.

By providing greater control over private chats and media, WhatsApp is taking steps to improve user confidence and trust in the platform.

As WhatsApp continues to develop and implement new privacy features, it’s likely that the platform will continue to attract more users who are concerned about their privacy and data security.

2) How does the lock chat feature protect our privacy from anyone who borrows or uses are phone ?

Ans) Here’s how it works: When a chat is locked, it can only be accessed using the user’s fingerprint or passcode, making it almost impossible for anyone else to open the chat.
Also, if someone attempts to access the user’s phone and fails to provide the needed authentication, they will be asked to clear the chat to open it.

This feature also helps to keep media private by making sure that photos and videos sent in a locked chat are not automatically saved to the device’s gallery.

The ability to lock chats is currently under development and is expected to be released in a future update of the application, the report said.

3) What is New text editor on WhatsApp?

Ans) Meanwhile, on Friday, it was reported that the messaging platform was rolling out a new text editor experience to some beta testers on Android beta.

Beta testers can now edit photos, videos and GIFs in the text editor, reports WABetaInfo.
Users will also be able to easily switch between different fonts by tapping one of the font options displayed above the keyboard.

The text alignment can also be changed to the left, centre or right, providing users with more control over formatting text within images, videos and GIFs.

Beta users can change the text background colour, making it simpler for them to differentiate important text from the rest.

Some new fonts have also been released to beta testers, including Calistoga, Courier Prime, Damion, Exo 2 and Morning Breeze, the report said.

Earlier, it was reported that the messaging platform was working on a new feature called “audio chats”, which will be available within conversations in a future update of the application on Android.

4) What Is 15 new durations for disappearing messages?

Ans) According to reports, WhatsApp is working on 15 new durations for disappearing messages.

Currently, the platform supports three durations for disappearing messages– 24 hours, 7 days and 90 days, reports WABetaInfo.

The new durations will be present under the “More options” menu. The menu will include 15 new durations — 1 year, 180 days, 60 days, 30 days, 21 days, 14 days, 6 days, 5 days, 4 days, 3 days, 2 days, 12 hours, 6 hours, 3 hours and 1 hour.

Users will undoubtedly have more control over the messages they send and receive with the addition of more durations for disappearing messages.

The report further mentioned that the 1-hour duration will likely be helpful for messages containing sensitive or confidential information because it will enable users to send a message that vanishes quickly, preventing the message from being saved on the recipient’s device for a long time.

For those who are unaware, disappearing messages is a feature that allows users to send messages that disappear from both the sender and receiver’s chat after a certain period of time.

5) What is the New feature to disable multiple answers within polls?

Ans) WhatsApp is testing a feature that prevents multiple responses in polls on Windows beta.

A new option is available within the poll creator which allows users to force other people to select only one answer, reports WABetaInfo.

As respondents are forced to select the option they firmly believe in, this new feature will result in more accurate polls. Moreover, this feature can be especially helpful for queries that only need one response as the poll will be more relevant.

Some WhatsApp beta testers have already received this functionality for Android and iOS.
The ability to disable multiple answers within polls is currently available for some beta testers that install the latest WhatsApp beta for Windows update available on the Microsoft Store, and is expected to roll out to more users over the coming days, the report said.

It was reported that the messaging platform was rolling out a new “multi-selection” feature for messages on Windows beta.

With the new feature, users can select multiple messages after clicking on “Select” within the context menu of a conversation. Also, they can click anywhere within a conversation and then the “Select messages” option will appear.

6) What is Readability of messages in community groups?

Ans) The messaging platform is rolling out a new full-width messaging interface for community announcement groups to some best testers on iOS beta, which will improve the readability of conversations.

Now, when beta testers open a community announcement group, message bubbles will cover the full width of the screen and the profile icon will be shown within the bubble, reports WABetainfo.

With the new interface, users will be able to read messages easily because the text will be displayed on a wider line.

Also, as the community announcement groups are the only conversations to receive this new interface, they will easily stand out from other chats.

The full-width messaging experience within community announcement groups is currently available to some beta testers after installing the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app, and is expected to roll out to more users over the coming days, the report said.

Last month, it was reported that the messaging platform was working to bring communities to its ‘WhatsApp Business’ application for iOS.

Also Read: How to Secure Your Whatsapp Chat?

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