WhatsApp offers several features to keep your chats private, and a useful security measure is the ability to lock the app with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone. This ensures that your conversations remain private, even when your iPhone is unlocked.
In this iProfesional note you will find a quick guide on how to configure this security functionhow to skip it if necessary and answers to some common questions about the process in WhatsApp.
Set up Face ID or Touch ID for WhatsApp
- Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your iPhone.
- Go to Setting– Tap the Settings icon in the bottom right corner.
- Privacy settings: select Privacy of the list.
- Activate screen lock: touch Screen lock and change the Require Face ID or Require Touch ID option to ON.
- I chose a time duration: I decided how soon WhatsApp should require Face ID o Touch ID after closing.
After activating the screen lock, WhatsApp will need your face or fingerprint to open your chats. You will be able to continue replying to messages from notifications and receive calls without unlocking the application.
If Face ID or Touch ID doesn’t recognize you, a locked screen will appear asking you for authentication to enter WhatsApp. If it fails several times, you will have the option to enter the access code of your iPhone.
How to access WhatsApp without Face ID or Touch ID
- Go to iPhone Settings: open the app Setting on your iPhone.
- Seeks Face ID & Password or Touch ID & Password: Scroll down to this option and tap it.
- Enter your password: enter the password on your iPhone to make changes.
- Adjust app permissions: search Other apps in the Use Face ID/Touch ID section and deactivate WhatsApp.
- I opened WhatsApp again: now, when you start WhatsApp, it will ask you for the access code from your iPhone instead of biometric identification.
There are slight differences between the iOS and Android versions of WhatsApp.
This method temporarily removes the biometric lock of WhatsApp, allowing access with your iPhone password. It’s a useful solution if you can’t use Face ID or Touch ID.
Can WhatsApp be locked with a password?
WhatsApp does not support locking the app with a custom password. Use your iPhone’s security features, such as Face ID, Touch ID, or your device password. If Face ID or Touch ID fails, for example, because you have the wet hands or you are wearing sunglasses, your iPhone will ask for your password. You cannot set a separate password just for WhatsApp.
What if Face ID or Touch ID doesn’t work?
If they don’t work, you can try again or use your iPhone password after some failed attempts.
Can I still reply to messages with WhatsApp blocked?
Yes, you can reply to messages from notifications and answer calls without unlocking WhatsApp, staying connected.
What happens to my WhatsApp notifications when the app is blocked?
When WhatsApp is locked with Face ID or Touch ID, you will continue to receive notifications as usual.
You can see the sender and part of the message from the notification and reply directly from it without having to unlock the app.
How do you block individual and group chats on WhatsApp on iPhone?
To block your WhatsApp chats on your iPhone, you need to make sure of the following:
- Use the latest version of WhatsApp on your iPhone. You do not need to register for the WhatsApp beta program to use this feature.
- You must enable Face ID or Passcode on your iPhone to block a personal chat on WhatsApp. If you can’t follow the steps below because you don’t see the feature, make sure you have enabled Face ID for WhatsApp.
Let’s start with the steps to show you how to block individual chats on WhatsApp.
If there is a one-on-one conversation you want keep private, you can use this function in WhatsApp on your iPhone. We explain how to use it.
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- Select the chat that you want to block.
- Play the contact name on top.
- Scroll down and select Chat Lock.
- Play the switch next to Lock this chat to enable chat blocking. You will be asked to confirm with your Face ID or password.
WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging application in the world.
You must bear in mind that WhatsApp will not block chat on your linked devices.
How to block WhatsApp group chats on iPhone
Like individual chats, you can also enable group chat blocking in WhatsApp on your iPhone. This too It is applicable if you create a WhatsApp group with yourself. We explain how to enable it.
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- Select the group chat that you want to block.
- Play the group chat name on top.
- Scroll down and select Chat Lock.
- Tap the switch next to Block this chat to enable chat blocking. You will be asked to confirm with your Face ID or password.
How to find your blocked chats on WhatsApp on iPhone
Once you block an individual or group chat on WhatsApp, it will not be visible on the app’s main chat page. You need to swipe down from the top to reveal the Blocked Chats folder. You can select it to see all your blocked chats and group chats. We explain how to disable chat blocking.
- In the folder Blocked chatsselect the chat you want to unblock.
- Touch the name of the group chat or contact name at the top.
- Scroll down and select Chat Lock.
- I touched it again switch to disable chat blocking.
- You will be asked to validate it with Face ID or password. Once this is done, your selected chat will be unlocked.
Can’t block WhatsApp chats on iPhone?
If you still can’t see the function to block WhatsApp chats on your iPhone, you can try force quit and restart the app. On your iPhone’s home screen, swipe up and hold to reveal the background app windows.
WhatsApp serves as a social network for millions of people.
Swipe right to search for WhatsApp. Then, swipe up to force close WhatsApp. Open WhatsApp again and you should now see the chat blocking feature.
Conclusion
You can configure Face ID or Touch ID for WhatsApp for greater privacy. You can also bypass the biometric lock to access WhatsApp using a passcode. And remember that WhatsApp does not allow passwords: use Face ID, Touch ID or password.
