Don’t you hate it when people casually pick up your iPhone, open WhatsApp, and start browsing through the messages? Here’s a news that will make you sigh in relief – WhatsApp on iPhone now has an app lock feature!
Yes, the latest WhatsApp update (version 2.19.20) includes the much anticipated biometric authentication. This feature allows iPhone users to restrict WhatsApp access by enabling Face ID or Touch ID support.
The addition of this authentication feature was reported for the first time last October, and iPhone users have been eagerly waiting for it since. The new biometric authentication to open
To enable Face ID or Touch ID lock on WhatsApp, follow these steps:
Open the WhatsApp app
Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Screen Lock
In the Screen Lock screen, depending on your iPhone model, you will be shown the toggle switch to enable Face ID or Touch ID
In case you want to keep your messages secure, but don’t want to go through the authentication process every time you switch apps, you have the option to choose the time frame for which the app will remain unlocked. You can set it to lock immediately as you exit WhatsApp or after a minute, 15 minutes, or even an hour.
However, please note that you can still reply to messages from notifications and answer calls without having to unlock the app. This feature also doesn’t add any additional security to your WhatsApp individual conversations as the app, once unlocked, opens access to all your chats.
Your iPhone should have iOS 8.0 or later for this feature to function. You can download the latest version of WhatsApp from the App Store or update your current app by going to the App Store on your iPhone and going to the Updates section.
Granted, this isn’t the perfect privacy update, but right now, we’ll take what we can get!
