If you’re one of the million WhatsApp users in India, chances are you rely on the app daily, either for work, casual chats, or family groups. But with the convenience of instant communication comes the growing concern of privacy.
Thankfully, WhatsApp isn’t slacking on this front. Over the past few months, the Meta-owned platform has rolled out multiple features aimed squarely at giving users more control over their data and digital footprint. Let’s walk through a few settings you should absolutely turn on. Right now.
1. Advanced Chat Privacy is here
This is WhatsApp’s latest addition and one of its most ambitious so far. Dubbed Advanced Chat Privacy, it allows users to limit how their messages are used, even inside groups.
When toggled on, it blocks people from exporting your chats, auto-downloading shared media, and even using your messages for AI-based features. You can enable this by opening a chat, tapping on the contact or group name, and selecting Advanced Chat Privacy. As of now, this is just the beginning. WhatsApp plans to add more layers here soon.
2. No more surprise group adds
Getting added to random WhatsApp groups can be a privacy nightmare. The fix? A simple but effective setting.
Head over to Settings > Privacy > Groups and choose either My Contacts or My Contacts Except.
This way, only the people you trust can loop you into new groups.
3. Send “View Once” media
Finally, for sending sensitive images or videos, use the View Once feature. Tap the “1” icon before sending media, and it’ll disappear after it’s viewed. No forwarding, saving, or sharing. Just privacy done right.
4. Encrypt your backups too
WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted, but your backups? Not always, unless you enable encrypted backups.
Whether you’re on Android using Google Drive or on iPhone with iCloud, this feature lets you secure your backup with a password or a 64-digit encryption key.
ALSO READ: WhatsApp brings voice chat to all groups, no matter the size
Just head to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > End-to-end Encrypted Backup, and follow the prompts. It ensures that not even WhatsApp or your cloud provider can access your messages.
5. Control your online visibility
For those who prefer to fly under the radar, WhatsApp’s settings allow you to hide your Last Seen and Online status.
Go to Privacy > Last Seen & Online, and tailor it to your liking, be it specific contacts or no one at all.
Your privacy is just a few taps away.

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Satvik Pandey
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