WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It offers end-to-end encryption for messages, voice calls, and video calls, providing privacy and security for communications. However, one feature that is noticeably absent in WhatsApp is the ability to lock chats to add an extra layer of security.
What is chat locking?
Chat locking allows users to lock individual chats on a messaging app behind an additional layer of security like a passcode, fingerprint, or face recognition. This prevents unauthorized access to those conversations even if someone gets ahold of your unlocked phone.
Some examples of chat locking in other messaging apps include:
- Telegram – Passcode, fingerprint, or face recognition
- Signal – Passcode or touch/face ID
- Facebook Messenger – Passcode or touch/face ID
With chat locking, you can selectively lock only sensitive conversations without needing to lock down your entire app. This gives you more granular control over privacy.
Why doesn’t WhatsApp have chat locking?
There are a few potential reasons why WhatsApp has not yet implemented chat locking:
Prioritizing simplicity
WhatsApp was designed from the ground up to be simple and intuitive to use. The developers likely did not want to introduce a complex feature like chat locking that would compromise the app’s simplicity.
Technical limitations
Adding chat locking in WhatsApp presents some technical challenges due to the app’s underlying architecture. Since all messages are end-to-end encrypted, the app may not have a way to selectively decrypt individual chats on demand for locking.
Focusing on other priorities
WhatsApp has been focused on rolling out other features like dark mode, self-destructing messages, multi-device support etc. Chat locking may not have been as high a priority for development resources.
Minimal impact on privacy
Since WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption by default for all chats, the incremental privacy benefit of locking specific chats is arguably minimal for most users.
Are there any workarounds to lock WhatsApp chats?
Since native chat locking is not an option, here are some workarounds WhatsApp users have come up with:
Use a third-party app
Some third-party apps like AppLock claim to let you lock WhatsApp with a passcode or fingerprint. However, this does not provide true chat locking – it simply adds a device-level lock to the entire WhatsApp app.
Use hidden chats
WhatsApp has a hidden chats feature that lets you hide certain conversations from the main chat list. To access the hidden chat, you need to know the exact name of the contact. This provides obfuscation but not true locking.
Enable screen lock on your device
Enabling a strong screen lock password, PIN or biometrics on your device can help prevent unauthorized access to WhatsApp. But this locks down your entire phone, not specific chats.
Use a private chat app like Telegram or Signal
If chat locking is a must, switching to a more security-focused app like Telegram or Signal is an option. But you’d lose the convenience of using WhatsApp.
What do industry experts say about WhatsApp’s lack of chat locking?
Here are some opinions from security experts on WhatsApp not offering chat locking:
| Expert | Quote |
|---|---|
| Joseph Carson, Chief Security Scientist at ThycoticCentrify | “While many competitors offer chat locking, the lack of this feature in WhatsApp is not reason for grave concern given their encryption standards. However, chat locking would provide that extra assurance for high-risk users.” |
| Harshil Parikh, Director of Security at Mediaptive Health | “It’s likely a calculated decision by WhatsApp to balance user experience and privacy. Locking chats can be tedious for everyday users. And their encryption means conversations already have a baseline privacy.” |
| Lisa Plaggemier, Chief Strategy Officer at MediaPro | “WhatsApp’s goal has always been ease of communication. Chat locking goes against their core vision – it’s unclear if the marginal security boost is worth added friction for users.” |
The consensus seems to be that while chat locking would provide some incremental security, its absence is unlikely to be a deal-breaker for the majority of WhatsApp users given the app’s existing encryption.
The case for chat locking on WhatsApp
Here are some reasons why enabling chat locking could benefit WhatsApp users:
Added protection for sensitive chats
The ability to lock financial chats, medical discussions or confidential work conversations gives extra assurance those messages are secured.
Prevent snooping of private chats
Locking chats with your spouse, close friends or therapist prevents prying eyes from accessing those personal conversations.
Security if phone is lost/stolen
Locked chats stay inaccessible even if your unlocked phone falls into the wrong hands for a period.
Control over shared devices
When using WhatsApp on a shared/family device, chat locking lets individuals restrict access to their private conversations.
Peace of mind for high-risk users
Activists, journalists and other high-risk users can benefit tremendously from the additional security of chat locking.
The case against chat locking on WhatsApp
Here are some potential downsides of enabling chat locking on WhatsApp:
Frustration with managing locks
Constantly locking/unlocking chats and managing passcodes can be tedious, especially for users who prefer seamless messaging.
Discovery issues finding locked chats
If chats are locked, users may be unable to find old conversations when searching WhatsApp or checking notifications.
Encryption already provides security
WhatsApp’s existing end-to-end encryption already secures messages from third-party access.
Workaround options have limitations
The workarounds like hidden chats and third-party apps do not provide foolproof chat locking.
Potential technical challenges
Integrating native chat locking within WhatsApp’s architecture may require overhauling the app’s encryption systems.
Will WhatsApp ever provide native chat locking?
It’s difficult to say definitively whether WhatsApp will ever implement built-in chat locking. Here are some factors that can influence their decision:
User demand
If chat locking becomes a highly demanded feature by a sizable portion of the user base, WhatsApp may prioritize building it.
Competitive pressure
If apps like Telegram and Signal tout chat locking as a competitive advantage, WhatsApp may add it to match their security capabilities.
Platform standards
If hardware platforms like iOS and Android make biometric chat locking a default standard, WhatsApp may implement their own version.
Regulatory requirements
Data privacy regulations could potentially mandate chat locking capabilities, requiring WhatsApp to add the feature.
Technical feasibility
Advances in encryption technology could make chat locking easier to implement in a secure way on WhatsApp.
Conclusion
In summary, the lack of native chat locking on WhatsApp comes down to priorities around simplicity and focus on their default encryption. While chat locking would provide incremental security benefits, it may not align well with WhatsApp’s product philosophy and vision.
There are decent workarounds available if locking specific chats is important for your use case. And the door is not fully shut on WhatsApp adding chat locking down the road if certain factors influence that decision.
But for now, embracing WhatsApp’s simplicity and making good use of its default encryption is a reasonable security model for the vast majority of users. So while the ability to lock chats would be nice to have, its absence is not a critical loss that outweighs the usability and convenience WhatsApp offers.