Useful WhatsApp Privacy Settings
Quick summary: Control who can see your profile, last seen and groups, and protect your account with extra steps.
WhatsApp protects the content of your personal messages in transit, but that does not mean your whole profile is private by default. Depending on your settings, people who only have your phone number may be able to see your profile photo, About text and when you were last online. Scammers can also try to take over accounts or add you to unwanted groups.
This guide walks through the WhatsApp privacy settings that matter most, in a sensible order. You will decide who can see what, and add protection so that nobody else can use your account.
Before you start
WhatsApp changes its menus from time to time, and the names can differ by app version and phone. The usual route is the three-dot menu, then Settings, then Privacy. If an option is not on your version, skip it. Update WhatsApp from the Play Store first so you see the newest options.
1. Open the privacy menu
In WhatsApp, tap the three dots (or your profile picture on some versions), choose Settings, then Privacy. You will see options such as Last seen and online, Profile photo, About, Groups, Status, Read receipts and Disappearing messages. Some versions also offer a Privacy checkup that walks you through the main choices.
2. Decide who sees your last seen and online status
Open Last seen and online. Choose Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except or Nobody. My contacts is a sensible choice for most people. Be aware that if you hide your last seen from others, you may not see theirs either.
3. Limit who can see your profile photo and About
Open Profile photo and About separately and pick My contacts or another limited option. Anyone can otherwise save your photo and use it elsewhere, for example to create a fake profile. A limited audience reduces that risk.
Example: A scammer who sees your photo and name can copy them to pose as you with your friends. Limiting the audience makes this harder.
4. Control who can add you to groups
Open Groups and choose My contacts or My contacts except. Without this, strangers can add you to groups that share links, adverts or scams. If someone who is not in your contacts tries to add you, WhatsApp may send an invitation that you can accept or ignore.
5. Switch on two-step verification
Go to Settings, then Account, then Two-step verification, and enable it. You will create a six-digit PIN and can add a recovery email. WhatsApp will occasionally ask for the PIN. This stops someone who obtains your SMS code from taking over your account. Pick a PIN you can remember but others cannot guess.
6. Check Linked devices
Open Settings, then Linked devices. You should see only the computers, tablets and browsers you recognise. If there is one you do not know, tap it and log out. Do this every few weeks, especially after using a shared or public computer.
7. Use disappearing messages for sensitive chats
Open a chat, tap the contact or group name, then Disappearing messages, and choose a time such as 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days. New messages in that chat will vanish after the chosen time. This is helpful for one-time codes or addresses. It does not stop someone taking a screenshot or copying the text.
8. Review read receipts, calls and blocked contacts
Under Privacy you can turn off read receipts (the blue ticks) for one-to-one chats. In some versions you can also silence calls from unknown numbers and hide your IP address in calls. Review the Blocked contacts list so that only the right people are blocked.
9. Protect your chat backups and phone
If you back up chats to Google Drive, check Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup, and consider the end-to-end encrypted backup option if your version offers it. Also lock your phone, and use WhatsApp's own app lock or chat lock if available on your version.
Pro tip and important warning
Pro tip: Never share your WhatsApp verification code or two-step PIN with anyone, including friends, family or someone claiming to be WhatsApp support. The code is only for you to register your own phone.
Important: If a contact suddenly asks for money, a verification code or an urgent favour, call them on a normal phone line before you reply. Their account may have been taken over. Treat unexpected links and attachments in groups with the same suspicion.
Conclusion
A few minutes in Privacy and Account settings give you control over who can see your details and make account takeover much harder. Start with two-step verification, groups and profile photo, then work through the other options. For more on staying safe, read How to Identify Suspicious Apps and Links, Essential Smartphone Security Tips and browse our WhatsApp Tips category.
