Putting a password on your archived WhatsApp chats is a great way to add an extra layer of privacy and security to your old conversations. With a password in place, you can rest assured that only you (or anyone else who knows the password) will be able to access the archived chats.
Why would you want to password protect archived WhatsApp chats?
Here are some common reasons why people choose to password protect their archived WhatsApp chats:
- Privacy – You may have sensitive or private conversations in your archived chats that you don’t want others to be able to access.
- Security – Password protection adds an extra barrier against people accessing your chats without your permission.
- Peace of mind – Knowing your archived chats are password protected can give you peace of mind that they are safe from prying eyes.
- Control – You get to decide who can view your archived chats by choosing who you give the password to.
In general, password protecting your archived chats gives you more control over your privacy and security. It’s an easy way to lock down access to your old WhatsApp conversations.
How to add a password to archived WhatsApp chats
Adding a password to your archived WhatsApp chats is a straightforward process. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open WhatsApp and go into your Chats tab.
- Tap the 3 dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Back up chats.
- On the next screen, tap End-to-end encrypted backup.
- Toggle on the switch next to Encrypt backup.
- Enter a password you want to use. Make sure it’s unique and not easy to guess.
- Confirm the password.
- Tap Back up chats.
That’s it! WhatsApp will now encrypt your archived chats locally on your device before backing them up. The encryption keys are protected by your password, so no one else will be able to restore and access the backup without knowing it.
Important points about password protecting archived chats
Here are some key things to keep in mind when using a password with WhatsApp backup encryption:
- Don’t forget the password – If you ever need to restore from the backup, you’ll need the password to decrypt it. Losing the password means potentially losing access to your archived chats for good.
- Password protect your phone – Anyone who can unlock your phone could potentially access your archived chats. Use a strong phone lock passcode, fingerprint, or face unlock to add extra protection.
- Back up the password – Consider writing down or storing the password somewhere secure in case you forget it later on.
- Change the password periodically – For greater security, you may want to change your backup password every so often.
- Enable 2-step verification – Adding 2-step verification to your WhatsApp account provides another layer of security if someone tries accessing your chats.
How to view your archived chats
Your archived chats don’t actually disappear after you archive them in WhatsApp. They are still stored on your phone and in your encrypted backup. Here’s how to access them:
- Open WhatsApp and tap Chats.
- At the top, tap Archived.
- Enter your chat backup password when prompted.
- You will then see a list of all your archived chats and can tap any one to view.
This will decrypt the archived chat temporarily so you can view the messages. You’ll need to enter your password each time you want to view your archived chats.
Restoring archived chats on a new device
If you get a new phone, you’ll need to restore your encrypted WhatsApp backup in order to recover your archived chats. Here’s how:
- Install WhatsApp on your new device.
- Verify your phone number.
- On the Restore chat history screen, tap Restore.
- Select the encrypted backup you want to restore from.
- Enter your backup password when prompted.
- Your archived chats will then be decrypted and restored on your new device.
As long as you have your encrypted backup and remember the password, you’ll always be able to restore your archived chats, even when switching phones.
Removing password protection
If you ever want to remove password protection from your archived chats, here are the steps:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap End-to-end encrypted backup.
- Toggle off the Encrypt backup switch.
- Tap Back up chats.
Your archived chats will then be backed up without encryption. Keep in mind any existing encrypted backups will still require your password to restore from.
Conclusion
Adding password protection to your WhatsApp archived chats is easy to do and helps keep your old conversations more private and secure. Just be sure to save the password somewhere safe so you don’t get locked out of your chats. With encrypted backup enabled, you can comfortably archive old chats knowing they are protected from unauthorized access.