Control your privacy: Use 'Secret Codes' to make your conversations more private on WhatsApp

WhatsApp’s Secret Code feature adds another layer of privacy to locked chats by hiding the Locked Chats folder itself. Instead of simply protecting sensitive conversations with your phone’s passcode, fingerprint, or Face ID, you can assign a custom secret code that makes the folder invisible until you enter the code in WhatsApp’s search bar. It’s a useful way to keep private conversations out of sight if someone else occasionally uses your phone, but it only protects chats from people with physical access to your unlocked device; it doesn’t defend against scams, hacked accounts, or stolen verification codes. Protecting your WhatsApp account still requires good security habits, such as enabling two-step verification and recognizing social engineering attempts.

Key takeaways

• Secret Codes hide your Locked Chats folder, making private conversations harder for others to discover if they access your unlocked phone.
• The feature improves privacy but does not protect you from phishing, account takeover, or WhatsApp scams.
• Enable two-step verification, never share verification codes, and keep your phone secured with a strong screen lock.
• Bitdefender Scamio can help you identify suspicious WhatsApp messages, links, QR codes, and impersonation attempts before they compromise your account.

Did you know that WhatsApp has a feature that allows you to hide conversations that you wish to keep private? This feature comes in handy when someone else opens your WhatsApp account and you have chats you'd rather keep away from prying eyes.

Whether it's for flirting with a secret crush or planning a surprise party, the "secret code" feature enables you to keep your locked chats secure and confidential.

What it is and how it works

WhatsApp offers a Chat Lock feature that allows you to protect your sensitive conversations with your phone's passcode, facial recognition, or fingerprint. Notification previews for locked chats do not reveal the sender or message content, and any media shared in these chats will not be automatically saved to the phone's photo library, which helps to keep the conversations more private.

However, WhatsApp places Locked Chats in a folder on your main screen, which can be easily noticed by others. Here is where the "Secret Code" enters the scene. When you designate a secret code to your Locked Chats folder, Locked Chats disappears from your main screen, and the only way to find these conversations is to use your secret code.

Here's how to try it yourself

1. Open the WhatsApp app
2. Select and long-press the chat you'd like to secure with a secret code
3. Tap 'Lock Chat' and then 'Continue'
4. Open the Chat Lock Settings
5. Set up your Secret Code - it can be whatever you want, emoji included.
6. When you want to find your chat, search your Secret Code in the search bar

Once set up, Locked Chats will disappear from the main screen. You'll be able to find the folder and all your private communications by searching for your secret code from the Chats search bar.

WhatsApp doens't say what happens if your forget your secret code, although it suggests it should be memorable.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the Secret Code on WhatsApp?

A Secret Code is an optional privacy feature for WhatsApp’s Locked Chats. Instead of displaying your Locked Chats folder in the chat list, WhatsApp hides it until you enter a custom code in the app’s search bar. The feature adds another layer of privacy for conversations you want to keep out of sight if someone else uses your unlocked phone. It works alongside your device’s passcode, fingerprint, or Face ID rather than replacing them.

How do I secretly message someone on WhatsApp?

There isn’t a special “secret message” mode on WhatsApp. If you want more privacy, you can lock a chat and protect it with a Secret Code so it’s hidden from your main chat list. You can also enable disappearing messages to have new messages automatically delete after a chosen period. Remember that recipients can still take screenshots, forward messages, or save media unless other restrictions apply.

How do I find out someone’s WhatsApp Secret Code?

You can’t. WhatsApp is designed so that another person’s Secret Code is private and cannot be viewed or recovered by other users. Trying to guess or bypass someone else’s code isn’t supported by WhatsApp and may violate their privacy. If you’ve forgotten your own Secret Code, you’ll need to follow WhatsApp’s recovery options or reset your Locked Chats settings, depending on your account and device.