WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion active users. One of the key features of WhatsApp is the ability to share your status with your contacts – similar to how Stories work on other social media platforms. Your status on WhatsApp allows you to post text, photos, videos and GIFs that expire after 24 hours. By default, your status updates on WhatsApp are visible to all of your contacts. However, WhatsApp gives you the option to hide your status from specific contacts if you wish to limit who can view your updates.
Hiding WhatsApp status from contacts
If you hide your WhatsApp status from someone, it means that particular contact will not be able to view any of your status updates. Your status will appear as “You updated your status” to the contacts you’ve hidden it from. Essentially, hiding your status provides more privacy and prevents specific contacts from seeing your status activity and updates.
To hide your WhatsApp status from specific contacts:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the Settings icon in the bottom right (the 3 dots icon)
- Go to Account > Privacy
- Tap on Status > My Contacts Except…
- Select the contacts you want to hide your status from by tapping on their names
- Tap on Done in the top right corner once you’ve selected all the relevant contacts
This will hide your status from the contacts you’ve selected. You can return to this setting any time to add or remove contacts from your hidden status list.
Who can see your WhatsApp status if you hide it?
If you hide your WhatsApp status from specific contacts, it means that:
- The contacts you have hidden your status from will NOT be able to view your status updates
- All other contacts who you have NOT hidden your status from will still be able to view your status normally
- You can view your own status updates as usual
So in effect, hiding your status only blocks certain contacts from seeing it – everyone else will have access to your status as normal.
Does hiding your status notify contacts?
No, hiding your WhatsApp status is completely private and discreet. The contacts you hide your status from are NOT notified or indicated in any way. Your status will simply appear as “You updated your status” to the contacts it is hidden from.
There is no way for hidden contacts to know that you’ve specifically hidden your status from them. It will seem as if you just haven’t posted a status update.
Can blocked contacts see your status if hidden?
No, blocked contacts on WhatsApp are automatically unable to view your profile photo, about info, or status updates. So even if you haven’t specifically hidden your status from a blocked contact, they will not be able to see it.
The only way a blocked contact can potentially view your status is if they have your phone number saved in their phone’s local contacts. Even in this case, they have to tap on your contact in their phone’s local contacts to try and view your status via the WhatsApp contact info screen.
Can you see someone’s status if they’ve hidden it from you?
If someone has hidden their WhatsApp status from you specifically, there is no way for you to view their status updates. Their status will simply show “You updated your status” in your chat with that contact.
Even if you try viewing their profile or contact info, it will not show their latest status update. There is currently no workaround that will allow you to view someone’s status if they have hidden it from you.
Can hiding your status cause communication issues?
Potentially yes, hiding your WhatsApp status selectively from certain contacts can lead to some communication issues or conflicts. Here are some potential problems that can arise:
- The hidden contacts may feel excluded, left out or offended that you’ve hidden your status from them
- It can damage relationships if the hidden contacts discover they are being prevented from seeing your status
- Conversations and social connections rely on shared updates, so hiding your status from some contacts can disconnect them from your life
- If your status provides important updates that others rely on, selective hiding prevents key contacts from staying updated
That being said, hiding your status certainly has valid uses as well, such as maintaining privacy from contacts you don’t know well. But in many cases, selective hiding of your status can cause social friction.
Should you tell contacts you’ve hidden your status?
That depends. Since hiding your status does not notify contacts, it can be perceived negatively if discovered. But directly telling contacts you are hiding your status from them can also provoke conflict.
Here are some pros and cons of informing contacts:
- Pros: More transparent, avoids discovery/confusion later, gives them a reason
- Cons: Can seem passive-aggressive, damages relationships, creates unnecessary drama
If the contacts are people you trust and interact with regularly, it may be better to provide a polite explanation. But for acquaintances or contacts you rarely speak to, it’s often wisest not to mention that you’ve hidden your status at all.
How do you unhide WhatsApp status from someone?
It’s easy to unhide your status if you change your mind later. Just follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Status
- Tap on “My Contacts Except…”
- Tap on the contacts you want to UNHIDE your status from
- Their names will be unchecked, indicating your status is now visible to them again
- Tap Done to save your changes
This will immediately make your status visible again to the contacts you unhid. There is no limit on how many times you can hide and unhide contacts.
Conclusion
Hiding your WhatsApp status from specific contacts allows you to limit who can view your status updates for greater privacy. However, doing so selectively can also damage social connections and relationships if discovered or overused. Be thoughtful about who you hide your status from and consider informing close contacts to avoid misunderstandings.