Setting a custom WhatsApp status that is visible to only one selected contact is easy to do on Android. Here is a quick overview of how to do it:
WhatsApp allows you to set different status updates for different contacts. So you can set a status that is visible only to one specific person, while having a different public status visible to all your other contacts.
Steps to set WhatsApp status for only one person on Android:
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
- Go to your contacts list and select the contact you want to set the exclusive status for.
- Tap on the name of the contact to open your chat window with them.
- In the chat window, tap on the contact’s name at the top to open their contact info.
- Scroll down and tap “Custom privacy” option.
- In the next screen, enable “Show status” toggle for that specific contact.
- Go back to your WhatsApp home screen.
- Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Tap on “Status” > “My status” at the top.
- Create or select the status update you want to set for the chosen contact.
- Once done, tap on the check mark to publish your status update.
This status will now be visible only to that particular contact. Your other WhatsApp contacts will not be able to see this exclusive status.
Detailed Step-by-Step Guide
Here are more detailed steps to set a custom WhatsApp status for only one contact on your Android phone:
1. Open WhatsApp
First, launch WhatsApp on your Android smartphone. WhatsApp’s home screen will open with all your recent chats.
2. Go to Contact’s Info
Next, go to your WhatsApp contacts list and tap on the contact you want to set the exclusive status for. This will open your chat window with that person.
In the chat window, tap on the contact’s name at the very top. This will open their contact info screen.
3. Tap “Custom Privacy”
On the contact info screen, scroll down and look for the “Custom privacy” option. Tap on it.
4. Enable “Show Status” for Contact
You will now see a screen with various privacy options for that specific contact. Look for the “Show status” option and enable the toggle for it. This will allow the contact to view your exclusive status.
5. Go Back to WhatsApp Home
Once done, go back to your WhatsApp home screen by tapping the back button multiple times.
6. Tap Your Profile Picture
On the WhatsApp home screen, tap on your profile picture at the top right corner.
7. Tap “Status” > “My Status”
This will open your WhatsApp profile screen. At the top, you will see options like Camera, Chats, Status, Calls etc. Tap on Status, and then My Status.
8. Create/Select Status Update
You will now see options to create a new status update or view existing updates. Select the status update you want to set for the chosen contact.
If you want to create a new status, you can take a new photo/video or select from existing photos/videos on your phone. Add text, emojis or draw on the status as you normally would.
9. Publish Status Update
Once you have selected or created the status update, tap on the check mark button to publish it.
This will set the status update so that it is visible only to the selected contact. Your other WhatsApp contacts will not be able to view this status.
Customize Visibility for Multiple Contacts
You can follow the above steps to customize status visibility for multiple specific contacts. Just repeat the steps of enabling “Show status” for each contact you want to show that exclusive status update.
This way you can set a status that is visible only to a few selected people, while keeping it hidden from everyone else on your WhatsApp contacts.
Change or Remove the Exclusive Status
When you want to update, change or remove the status visible only to certain contacts, just follow the regular steps to change your WhatsApp status.
Go to your profile, tap My Status and select a new status update or delete your existing status. This will automatically update or remove the status for the contacts you had customized visibility for.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some tips if you face any issues while setting up a status for only specific contacts on WhatsApp for Android:
- Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed.
- Double check that you enabled the “Show status” toggle for the desired contact.
- The contact must have your phone number saved in order for them to see the exclusive status.
- Restart the WhatsApp app and try again if the status privacy settings are not working correctly.
- Check WhatsApp’s access permissions in your phone’s settings to ensure it has storage access enabled.
- If the issue persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling the WhatsApp app on your device.
Limitations of Custom WhatsApp Status
While WhatsApp allows setting a different status for specific contacts, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- WhatsApp statuses can only be text, photos or videos. You cannot set a status to share your live location, GIFs, documents, voice messages etc. selectively.
- The custom status audience selection is limited to your WhatsApp contacts only. You cannot choose to show your status to some non-contacts.
- There is no way to preview how your status will look to the selected audience. WhatsApp lacks a preview feature for this.
- Deleting a status deletes it for all audience contacts. You cannot delete it from just some contacts’ views.
While not perfect, the custom status feature is still useful to share some updates selectively with chosen WhatsApp contacts. This can help avoid oversharing personal statuses with professional contacts, while still updating close friends and family.
Conclusion
Setting a custom WhatsApp status for specific contacts helps you control status visibility and privacy. On Android phones, enable the “Show status” option for individual contacts to show them exclusive status updates.
Repeat this for multiple contacts you want to share a status with. Custom statuses help avoid oversharing personal updates professionally. You can still publicly share other statuses with all contacts as usual.
With this guide, you should be able to easily configure and set a WhatsApp status on your Android device that is visible only to your selected contacts while keeping it private from others.