New WhatsApp Restricted Chat Feature Prevents Peeking on Laptops
WhatsApp has started rolling out the Restricted Chat feature to Android and iOS beta users. This feature provides an additional layer of privacy by restricting access to certain conversations solely to the user’s primary device.
Quoting reports from WABetaInfo, the Restricted Chat feature was previously discovered on WhatsApp Android beta version 2.26.39.11. Now, WhatsApp is introducing similar functionality for iPhone users via WhatsApp iOS beta 26.39.10.20, available through TestFlight.
Restricted Chat is an evolution of the Advanced Chat Privacy feature. The key difference is that this new feature adds access restrictions for conversations accessed via linked devices.
By activating Restricted Chat, WhatsApp implements four specific restrictions. First, media from the conversation cannot be automatically saved to the device gallery. Second, users cannot export the contents of the conversation.
Third, the Meta AI feature cannot be used within those chats. Fourth, the conversation cannot be accessed through linked devices.
The final restriction also prevents AI agents connected via linked devices from reading messages within the conversation. Consequently, restricted chats can only be accessed via the primary device.
For iPhone users, Restricted Chat can be activated directly through the chat information page. WhatsApp is replacing the Advanced Chat Privacy option with a dedicated ‘Restricted Chat’ menu.
Upon opening this menu, WhatsApp displays an explanation of the restrictions that will be applied before the user activates the feature. Once the button is enabled, the restrictions apply to everyone in the conversation who is using the latest version of WhatsApp.
At present, WABetaInfo has found that Restricted Chat is still limited to individual conversations.
While providing an extra layer of protection, WhatsApp emphasises that end-to-end encryption remains active regardless of whether Restricted Chat is used. Messages and calls within the conversation remain readable or audible only to the participants involved.
The feature is also optional. Users can personally determine which conversations they wish to subject to additional restrictions, while all other chats continue to function as usual.
WhatsApp is currently only rolling out Restricted Chat to a portion of iPhone beta users via TestFlight. As the launch is being conducted in stages, some users may not yet see the option on their chat information page.
WABetaInfo noted that if the Restricted Chat option is not yet available, users may need to wait for the next update. WhatsApp has not yet disclosed when the feature will be released to the stable version for all users.